The Nigerian Labour Party (LP) state chairmen have passed a vote of confidence on the party’s national chairman and other executive members of the party.
This came barely three days after another group, claiming to be chairmen of the party in the 36 states, passed a vote of no confidence on Abure, and asked him to step down with immediate effect following the an allegation by the party’s erstwhile national treasurer Oluchi Oparah that Abure misappropriating N3.5 billion.
The Plateau State chairman of the party, Comrade Solomon Ndam, had read the position of the group which claimed to be party chairmen at a press briefing held in Bauchi State over the weekend.
But in a counter move, the Abia State chairman of the party, Honorable Ceekay Igara who spoke for the group that met at the party secretariat in Abuja on yesterday said they are satisfied with Abure’s leadership of the party, adding that they “ have passed a vote of confidence” on Abure and his executive.
“We thank them for being true patriots and we pray the posterity will be kind to them for all the sacrifices they are making to salvage this nation at huge price they are paying now.”
According to him, a few days earlier, “we read in the social media of a group of urchins who claimed that they are Labour Party state chairmen.
“We thank you, the mainstream media, for largely ignoring them. We do not know them; they are not our members. Seated here today in our national headquarters are the authentic state chairmen of the Labour Party recognized by the INEC.
“Those men were touts picked on the streets and baptized with titles as state chairmen by the dissident former members of the party. It is no longer news as to who they are working for and what their assignments are.”
The party had been enmeshed in crisis over recent allegation.
The party’s national treasurer Oluchi Oparah had accused Julius Abure, chairman of the party, of allegedly misappropriating N3.5 billion.
Speaking at a press conference in Abuja she alleged that the N3.5 billion was raised from sales of forms and fundraising activities in the build-up to the 2023 elections.
In a swift reaction the National Working Committee (NWC) suspended her for six months with immediate effect for bringing the party to disrepute.
But at yesterday’s briefing by the chairmen they appealed to the NWC to rescind her suspension.
“We are a critical part of the leadership of the Labour Party being members of the National Executive Committee. This present NWC is our baby and we have entrusted our collective trust on it having carefully selected it based on the members pedigree, integrity and administrative capacity to lead the rest of us.
“This leadership has displayed a high level of transparency in the management of the party finances. The audit report as prepared by the external auditor is very clear about the finances of the party. Let me emphatically state here that our money is not missing.
“We didn’t generate N3.5b as claimed by the now suspended National Treasurer. We can confirm that the party only realized N1.3 million during the 2023 general election and another Seven Hundred Million naira donations which was used by the Presidential Campaign Council.
“All these monies were lodged in the banks and were promptly receipted. The audit is also clear about the money generated during the off season elections and how it was managed.
“Her allegation that the National Chairman didn’t allow her perform her duties was also a huge lies. In all our financial dealings with the national headquarters, she has always been the officer that has attended to us.
“From the records, virtually all the cheques were signed by her and the National Chairman. It is obvious she may have been influenced to lie against the National Chairman.
“You may be wondering why our National Leader and Presidential Candidate in the last general election, Peter Obi seems to be silent on this matter.
“The truth is that our leader has mediated privately on this matter, he is also aware that the sustained attacks against Barrister Abure are sponsored and are politically motivated.
“Again, our leader knows the role the National Chairman played during the process of his joining the party, after he joined the party and even during the campaign; he is aware of the immense sacrifices made by the leadership of the party for the project to become a reality.
“He is also aware that all the allegations are unfounded and spurious. That is why he chose to remain silent because he knows the truth.
“He also knows that the national chairman is honest and dedicated and he is also passionate about the growth and development of the party.
“His decision to involve an independent auditor is a welcome one and we believe that the outcome will finally exonerate Julius Abure and also expose the lies being peddled by the suspended Treasurer.
“It is very clear that the sponsored crisis is the handwork of our political opponents that are afraid of the future of the party.
“They are probably nursing fears and are looking for every opportunity to derail the party and to ensure that it is unable to realize its set goals. Labour Party is a dynamite and the fear of the party is the beginning of wisdom for our opponents.
“We also want to use this opportunity to debunk the allegation that the Labour Party is plotting to suspend its National Leader, Peter Obi.
“Like we said earlier, our party is under worst siege ever, including unleashing fierce propaganda against the party. The party has not at any time contemplated a suspension of our leader.
“He remains our leader and will continue to lead the party in our avowed determination to pull this nation out from the strangulation under this present government.
“We are also aware that some people are afraid of the fortunes of the party in Edo state governorship election. Our exploits in Edo state, generally referred as the headquarters of the OBIDIENT Movement in Nigeria has not ceased to discomfort them and they are going all the way to fan embers of discord within the party. We want to assure them that their plots will fail and the party will trudge on to massive victory. ”
In another development the party through its national secretary, Umar Farouk Ibrahim has released a list of Nine (9) successful aspirants screened to participate in the Edo State gubernatorial primaries.
They include: Dr. Angela Enimien Aburime Asom; Prince Tom iseghohi; Barrister Kenneth Imansuangbon and Mr. Abegbe Ernest Osabhuohien.
Others are: Dr. Blessing Akele; Prof. Eboh Sunday Eromosele; Barrister Olumide Anthony Akpata; Dr. Mrs. Loretta Oduware Ogboroko and Hon. Sergius Ogun.
