The Labour Party (LP) faced intensified turmoil as members of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) picketed the party’s national secretariat and several state offices.
The crisis, which has been brewing since the conclusion of the 2023 general elections, escalated significantly last week.
The LP’s presidential candidate in the 2023 election, Peter Obi, and his supporters, known as Obidients, appear to have distanced themselves from the party’s National Chairman, Julius Abure. This distancing comes amidst internal strife within the party’s structure.
Abure has been embroiled in several legal battles, including with the factional chairman, Lamidi Apapa. Recent allegations of financial impropriety and other issues have further tarnished Abure’s reputation.
In February 2024, Peter Obi called for a thorough investigation into allegations of embezzlement against Abure.
The party’s national treasurer, Oluchi Oparah, accused Abure of misappropriating N3.5 billion and colluding with the Edo State Government and the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) ahead of the September 2024 governorship polls.
Stakeholders, including the NLC, have criticized Abure’s leadership style, accusing him of running the LP as a “sole administrator.”
The NLC’s Political Commission expressed concerns over recurring scandals and pending fraud cases under Abure’s tenure.
The LP’s administration under Abure has been marked by controversy, with accusations of financial mismanagement and lack of commitment to the party’s ideology.
A planned national convention by the Abure-led National Working Committee (NWC) faced backlash from critical stakeholders.
The NLC, among others, rejected the convention, describing it as illegal and demanding Abure’s immediate resignation.
Amidst the crisis, a search for a new chairman has begun, with Comrade Isaac Balami, a former Deputy National Campaign Manager to Peter Obi/Dati Presidential Campaign, emerging as a potential successor. Balami, however, has yet to confirm his candidacy, citing unresolved issues.
The LP’s future remains uncertain as stakeholders seek to address the party’s internal challenges and rebuild its credibility.
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