LP insists Obi not quitting party, attacks on Abure aimed at Obi
By Jeph Ajobaju, Chief Copy Editor
Those spreading falsehoods against Labour Party (LP) National Chairman Julius Abure should go to court if they are sure of their allegations, the party has said, in broadside fired at Lamidi Apapa and his fellow turncoats.
The LP also clarified Peter Obi its leader is not under any pressure to leave the party over the smear campaign against Abure in the run up to the 2027 ballot.
The Appeal Court in Abuja on March 6 affirmed Abure LP Chairman and set aside the decision of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court, which last year restrained him and two others from parading themselves as LP national officers.
The judgment delivered by Justice Hamma Barka held the High Court was wrong to have assumed jurisdiction on the matter.
The court awarded a N1 million cost in favour of Abure and against the respondent, Apapa, the head of renegades trying hard to bring down the party, a scheme allegedly bankrolled by Bola Tinubu and his All Progressives Congress (APC) since Obi became LP leader in 2023, before and after Tinubu became President.
A statement issued by LP National Publicity Secretary Obiora Ifoh affirmed Obi has restated his willingness to remain in the party knowing that all the attacks on Abure are orchestrated and sponsored by political opponents in the high places.
“It astonishes us how far our detractors can go in ensuring that the party swims from one ocean of crisis to another in their evil desire to create disharmony between the party and our leaders,” Ifoh said.
“We are aware that Abure is not the target of these ferocious and malicious missiles. We are also aware that huge sums of money have been mapped out to wage a propaganda war against our leader ahead of the 2027 general election.
“The feat of the Labour Party in the last general election rattled not a few persons and the fear of the future has driven them to begin so early to prepare ahead. Part of the strategy is to make any political platform unviable for Obi to sail with.
“The party is also aware that any political party Peter Obi finds himself in as a vehicle for the 2027 presidential election, including the Labour Party, will not be spared by the political hirelings who are already recruited to dismember such a party.
“Let me emphasise here that even Peter Obi has severally pledged loyalty to the Labour Party due to its social democratic ideology which suits his political vision.
“Peter Obi will not anymore fellowship with any bourgeoisie party. He is a liberator and not a ruler as seen in the other parties.”
__________________________________________________________________
Related articles:
LP claps back at Tinubu, We’ll press on to take over govt to provide quality leadership
Abure to sue suspended LP National Treasurer Oluchi for defamation
Obi demands probe of alleged N3.5b LP campaign funds
__________________________________________________________________
Corruption allegations against Abure false, says LP
Ifoh also spoke on the corrupt enrichment allegations levelled against Abure.
“They are spurious, fairy tale, and a calculated attempt to tar the person of Abure with a dark brush. The audit report by the party’s external auditor gave the party a clean bill of health since 2021 when Abure assumed office.
“As a matter of fact, an earlier forensic audit report carried out in 2017 indicted our suspended treasurer [Oluchi Oparah] for fraudulently diverting huge sums of money to personal accounts.
“Abure’s only offence was that he refused to allow the continuation of looting while insisting that accountability must be enthroned. The very official who was the greatest beneficiary of those sleazes became uncomfortable and started waging wars.
“We are aware that Abure is still living in a rented apartment in Abuja and that he only recently refurbished a bungalow left for him by his late father as the first son.
“There is also no law in Nigeria forbidding a citizen from owning properties. Those making all these spurious allegations may have to prove them in court as the case is already before the court.
“It would also interest you to know that no kobo has ever left the Labour Party Bank accounts without a co-signatory; either by the National Secretary or the National Treasurer. So the narrative that Abure alone siphoned or diverted the party fund is clearly misleading and orchestrated to muscle him out of office.”
