Julius Abure, the embattled National Chairman of the Labour Party (LP), has accused Peter Obi, the party’s presidential candidate from last year, and Dr. Alex Otti, the party’s sole governor from Abia State, of betrayal and intentionally sowing discord within the party.
Speaking at a national executive council (NEC) meeting in Abuja on Monday, Abure expressed confidence that the ongoing party crisis would soon be resolved.
Obi, Otti, and other party leaders recently held a stakeholders meeting in Umuahia, Abia State, where they appointed former Minister of Finance Esther Nenadi Usman as head of a 29-man caretaker committee to address the party’s issues.
The Abure-led national working committee (NWC) has rejected this meeting, calling it illegal and ineffective.
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Speaking at the Monday meeting, Abure said, “We are at a critical juncture in the life of our party. Recent events have shown that those who should stand with us in the fight for a better, restructured, organised, and united Party have chosen a different path.
“A path not of unity, but of division. I speak, of course, of the illegal gathering that took place in Abia State, an attempt to create a rift within our party, led by none other than His Excellency Peter Obi and Governor Alex Otti,” Abure said.
Abure criticized the recent meeting, held without the National Executive Council’s authority or consent, for attempting to impose a so-called ‘new leadership’.
He asserted that he and his colleagues, elected during the party’s convention on March 27, 2024, will uphold the mandate given by party members.
He vowed that no amount of intimidation or harassment would force them to relinquish control of the party.
The convention, held in Anambra State, had been marred by controversy.
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Abure said, “Let me be clear: This action was not just illegal, it was a betrayal of everything the Labour Party stands for, a reward for loyalty with ingratitude, a reward for support with insubordination.
“Our mandate is to unite this country, not divide it. Yet, here we are, faced with a situation where individuals who have benefited from the trust and support of this great party now work to destabilize it from within.
“For those who have chosen to align themselves with this illegal action, I urge them to reconsider. The act of creating division is not just a political maneuver, it is a dangerous game. A game that, if allowed to continue, will dig a hole too deep for us to climb out of. Division within the Labour Party is division within Nigeria.
“And make no mistake, the consequences of such actions will not only affect the future of this party but the future of those who want to run elections under its platform.”
He stated that those attempting to fragment the party through clandestine deals and unlawful meetings should not be permitted to succeed.
He said, “What message does it send to Nigerians when meetings meant to divide us are held in Abia State, a state that has become a symbol of resilience? At a time when this nation is struggling with ethnic divisions, such actions do not promote unity, they deepen the wounds of distrust.
“Nigerians are watching, and they will not be silent. We cannot afford to play politics with the future of our Party.
“I call on all true members of the Labour Party to stand firm. This is not the time for betrayal; it is the time for solidarity. We must reject the actions of those who, for their own interests, seek to weaen us.
“I remain committed to leading this party in the right direction, one that aligns with the hopes and aspirations of Nigerians
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