A new leadership battle has broken out in the Labour Party after former National Chairman Julius Abure began distributing nomination forms for the 2027 elections, despite opposition from the party leadership and Abia State Governor Alex Otti.

The controversy followed viral photos showing Abure handing forms to party members in Abia State. The Labour Party leadership quickly dismissed the forms as invalid, warning supporters not to buy them.

Party spokesman Ken Asogwa said only forms issued through the party’s national secretariat in Abuja are recognised, calling any forms from Abure “worthless paper.”

Otti’s camp also accused Abure of ignoring court rulings that recognised Nenadi Usman as the party’s interim leader. According to Otti’s spokesman, both the Federal High Court and Court of Appeal backed the Usman-led structure, while INEC had already complied with the rulings.

However, Abure’s allies defended the move, arguing that cases over the party’s leadership are still before the Supreme Court. Former party vice chairman Ceekay Igara said the forms were being shared to avoid confusion if the apex court eventually rules in Abure’s favour.

Abure’s faction insists it remains the legitimate leadership of the Labour Party until the Supreme Court delivers a final judgment.