Abure denies APC infiltration claims, warns against alackmail
The Julius Abure-led faction of Labour Party (LP) has fired back at the party’s 2023 presidential candidate, Peter Obi, and Abia State Governor Alex Otti, accusing them of being the architects of the party’s internal crisis rather than the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
The accusation followed Obi’s recent interview with Arise TV where he alleged that the APC-led federal government had infiltrated the LP’s leadership to destabilise the opposition.
The LP’s National Secretary, Alhaji Umar Farouk Ibrahim, in a statement on Tuesday, dismissed the claims as “baseless blackmail” and challenged Obi to provide evidence.
The party leadership asserted that the crisis began when Obi and Otti allegedly formed an “illegal” caretaker committee in Umuahia, violating the party’s constitution. “There was no problem in the Labour Party until Peter Obi and Dr. Alex Otti polarized it,” the statement read.
It also accused Otti of disrespecting the party’s leadership, referencing a prior insult where the governor allegedly called National Chairman Julius Abure a “masturbator.” The LP claimed Abure’s description of Otti as “dwarfy in knowledge” was merely a reaction to the governor’s provocation.
The LP emphasised that courts, up to the Supreme Court, had validated Abure’s leadership, yet Obi and Otti allegedly continued to undermine the party. “They were blinded by their inordinate ambition to hijack the party,” the statement added.
The party also reminded Obi of its support during his presidential campaign and legal battles, questioning why he would now “demarket” the LP. “The same leadership stood by Obi at the tribunals and Supreme Court. We even gave him and Otti sole tickets for 2027 against our rulebook,” the statement noted.
While acknowledging that opposition parties nationwide face crises, the LP urged aggrieved members, including Obi, to accept Abure’s leadership and work towards rebuilding the party. “Barrister Julius Abure’s leadership has come to stay,” the statement declared.
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