Julius Abure Challenges Peter Obi and Alex Otti to Name LP Officials Who Allegedly Received Funds During 2023 Election

 

Julius Abure, who leads one of the factions within the Labour Party (LP) as its national chairman, has issued a strong public challenge to former presidential candidate Peter Obi and Governor Alex Otti. Abure is demanding that they come forward with the names of any party officials who, according to them, received money during the 2023 general elections. This call for transparency comes amid rising tensions and accusations within the party’s leadership.

The statement was made during a crucial stakeholders’ meeting held at the Labour Party’s national secretariat in Utako, Abuja, on Monday. During the meeting, Abure expressed deep frustration over what he described as attempts by some elected LP officials to undermine and remove the current national leadership, despite the sacrifices and hard work of the party’s executives.

This gathering of party members was organized by Joshua Chinedu Obika, the representative of the AMAC/Bwari federal constituency of Abuja in the House of Representatives. It was meant to address internal party issues but ended up revealing the scale of division within the LP.

Abure was particularly vocal about his dissatisfaction with what he called “smear campaigns” against the integrity of the party leadership. He insisted that the national executive members had refused to be bribed or influenced by large sums of money offered in exchange for political favours during the election period.

In his words:

“We rejected billions of naira. We rejected offers because of their positions. Today, they are in the forefront of those who want to throw us out of office.”

Abure went further by directly challenging his critics, particularly Peter Obi and others who contested the 2023 elections under the Labour Party banner:

“I want to challenge all of them. I was watching television and I saw some of them talking about corruption. Today, I want to challenge all of them, from Peter Obi downward, that contested the election. Let any of them come out and tell the world what they personally gave to me or to the party.”

He demanded clear answers, urging accusers to provide concrete evidence of any wrongdoing, rather than hiding behind vague allegations:

“It is not to go and hide and be saying there is corruption in the party. Who and who are those that brought the money? Who did they give it to? Where did they send it to? I challenge them today that any of them that has evidence, even if they don’t have evidence, let them be bold and come out and say when and how they gave the money and if they can’t do that, let them forever hold their peace.”

Despite his willingness to stand firm against these accusations, Abure revealed that until now, he has deliberately remained silent, hoping for reconciliation and unity within the party. But he warned that if the situation deteriorates further, he is ready to make even more explosive revelations public:

“I’m going to call a world press conference and publicly challenge them. As a leader, we have been quiet to say probably they are making mistakes, one day, probably they will come back.”

He further explained his earlier restraint by saying:

“When people were talking about agents, and money for agents, I kept quiet, I didn’t say anything because I believe that the bad, the good and the ugly are for me. And therefore, I should not throw away the bad child or the ugly child.”

However, Abure made it clear that when he noticed some members crossing lines and undermining the party from within, he decided to respond, revealing parts of the internal conflicts:

“When I saw that some people were going beyond their boundaries, I came out and released a periphery of what played out. And I am sure that by now, that house is no longer together as it is.”

He concluded his warning with a vivid metaphor to describe what will happen if the conflict escalates:

“I am waiting for them — from top to bottom — to make any other move and I will open my mouth. And when I open my mouth, wherever they go to, they will be like smelly eggs, rotten eggs that nobody will ever buy.”

The Broader Labour Party Leadership Crisis

The Labour Party is currently engulfed in a serious leadership crisis that has split the party into two main factions. Julius Abure leads one faction, while the other is controlled by a caretaker committee chaired by Nenadi Usman. This caretaker committee has the backing of several influential party figures, including Peter Obi, Governor Alex Otti, and Senator Ireti Kingibe, who represents the Federal Capital Territory in the Senate.

The dispute intensified after the Supreme Court ruled in April that the Court of Appeal did not have the jurisdiction to declare Abure as the party chairman. This ruling has caused confusion and conflicting claims of leadership legitimacy between the factions.

Tensions escalated further on May 7, when Abure’s faction suspended both Otti and Kingibe, accusing them of engaging in activities that were against the party’s interests. In response, the caretaker committee retaliated by suspending Abure and setting up an investigative panel chaired by Senator Kingibe. This panel is tasked with looking into allegations of corruption and the mismanagement of party funds levelled against Abure.

Additionally, Governor Alex Otti has urged the Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, to arrest Julius Abure over accusations of impersonation — a serious charge that could have significant legal consequences.

What This Means for the Labour Party and Nigerian Politics

This bitter internal struggle threatens to weaken the Labour Party at a time when it has become a major political force, especially after its strong showing in the 2023 general elections. The discord within the party could undermine its efforts to present a united front in upcoming elections and diminish its appeal among voters who see it as a credible alternative to Nigeria’s dominant political parties.

As Julius Abure’s public challenge intensifies and the caretaker committee pushes back with investigations and suspensions, the coming weeks will be critical in determining whether the Labour Party can heal its internal wounds or whether these disputes will continue to fracture the party further.

For now, all eyes remain on Peter Obi, Alex Otti, Julius Abure, and other key players, as Nigerians await answers about the true state of affairs within one of the country’s most promising political parties.