N3bn Allegation: My Suspension, Premeditated – Labour Party Treasurer

The suspended national treasurer of the Labour Party, Mrs Oluchi Opara, said the party’s sanction against her over allegation that the national chairman Abure misappropriated over N3 billion out of the N3.5 billion raised for the 2023 campaigns, was premeditated and didn’t follow the party’s rules.

Opara stated this while reacting to her suspension by the national leadership of the Labour Party (LP) for six months after she alleged, on Monday, that Abure squandered N3 billion out of the N3.5 billion raised for the 2023 campaigns.

The party leadership yesterday said it didn’t raise N3.5 billion for the campaign in all their accounts.

Addressing a press conference at the party’s headquarters, the national publicity secretary of the party, Mr Obiora Ifoh, said a disciplinary committee has been set up to try the national treasurer over her claims.

“Arising from the emergency meeting of the National Working Committee of the Labour Party, the leadership of the party has set up a disciplinary committee to try the National Treasurer, Ms Oluchi Opara for bringing the party to disrepute and misinforming the general public on the internal affairs of the party against the rules and regulations of the party.

“At the meeting held Tuesday evening February 13, 2024 in Abuja, and presided over by the Deputy National Chairman, Mrs Ladi Iliya, the party extended an invitation to the National Treasurer to appear before it on Wednesday February 14, 2024 by 10am at the Conference Hall of the Party National Headquarters.

“The party leadership is also calling on the teaming members of the party to be patient with it while it also assures that the ill wind will soon be resolved,” Obiora added.

But reacting to her suspension, Opara said the suspension was premeditated and didn’t follow the party’s laid down rules.

“I received a letter of invitation at 9:25pm Tuesday and I am not living in Abuja. They removed me on the party platform that night when they sent the invitation that I should appear by 10am Wednesday and they suspended me at 12pm Wednesday after I missed my flight. So, what happened was premeditated and I will not stop at revealing the truth,” Opara said.

Recall that Opara, in her allegation against Abure, at a press conference in Abuja on Monday, said “apart from the proceeds of the sale of forms from his home state of Edo – which was diverted to Mr Abure’s private accounts, he only declared N55 million to me as Treasurer, of the over N3.5 billion raised, pocketing the rest for himself.”