‘Funds misappropriation’: LP ‘state chairpersons’ call for Abure’s resignation

Some state chairpersons of the Labour Party (LP) have called for the resignation of Julius Abure, national chairman of the party, over alleged misappropriation of funds.

BACKGROUND

On February 12, Oluchi Oparah, national treasurer of the LP, at a press conference in Abuja, accused Abure of allegedly misappropriating N3.5 billion belonging to the party.

She said the N3.5 billion was raised from sales of forms and fundraising activities in the build-up to the 2023 elections.

In reaction, Abure in an interview on Arise Television on Thursday said he would sue Oluchi for defamation of character.

He also said the party did not raise N3.5 billion from the sale of forms as the national treasurer alleged.

The party has also suspended Oluchi for six months.

Speaking with reporters on Monday in Bauchi after a meeting of party chairpersons, Solomon Ndem, Plateau LP chairman, called on Peter Obi and Datti Baba-Ahmed, presidential and vice-presidential candidates of the party in the last elections, to ask Abure to step aside.

“In the spirit of openess and accountablilty, as elected chairmen of the Labour Party in Nigeria, we wish to address certain concerns that have come to our attention,” Ndem said.

“We are appealing to his excellency Peter Obi, Senator Datti Baba-Ahmed and other distinguished personalities within the party in requesting Julius Abure to step aside.

“It is imperative for the party and the people of Edo to consider this matter seriously as the actions of one individual should not jeorpadise the efforts of our candidate and the aspirations of our voters in Edo state.”

‘THEY’RE NOT RECONGNISED BY INEC’

Obiora Ifoh, LP national publicity secretary, in a reaction, said the persons calling for Abure’s resignation are not the state chairpersons of the party recognised by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

“Please disregard the trending story that State Chairmen have passed a vote of no confidence on Abure,” Ifoh said.

“Former National Publicity Secretary of the party Abayomi Arabambi in cohort with his rebel group as usual assembled touts and labeled them state chairmen.

“It is a fake story and one of the sustained propaganda attacks initiated by their sponsors to discredit the party. The INEC recognized state chairmen will very soon address the media.

“Let it be known that the Labour Party is under the worst kind of siege ever but you can be assured that the party will survive them.”