The embattled National Chairman of the Labour Party, Julius Abure, has distanced himself from the party’s final mega campaign rally in Edo State, just days before the governorship election set for Saturday, September 21.
The event, which took place on Wednesday, saw notable party figures such as Peter Obi, Yusuf Baba-Ahmed, Nenadi Usman, and Aisha Yesufu in attendance, all rallying support for Labour Party’s candidate, Olumide Akpata.
However, Abure and his National Working Committee (NWC) members were notably absent.
In a press conference held in Abuja on the same day, Labour Party’s National Publicity Secretary, Obiora Ifoh, accused Peter Obi and Abia State Governor, Alex Otti, of betraying the party’s leadership.
According to Ifoh, Obi and Otti allegedly collaborated with the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to sideline Abure and his loyalists, following the appointment of a caretaker committee led by Nenadi Usman to oversee the party’s activities.
Ifoh expressed disappointment, stating that Obi and Otti were “dancing ‘Gwo gwo gwo gwon’ with the electoral umpire,” a reference to a popular folk song by highlife artist Mike Ejeagha.
He lamented that the two leaders failed to support the party during a critical period, despite the party’s earlier efforts to stand by them.
Ifoh said, “The party is miffed by the actions of our leaders including our former presidential candidate and our only governor who should be defending the party at this trying moment. They ought to know that the LP is going through challenging times over its role in defending both leaders during the 2023 general election. Our leadership went to the trenches with Obi, cascading through the nooks and crannies canvassing for votes.
“For the benefit of hindsight, not a few Nigerians will forget how we accommodated some of these leaders when they were denied tickets in their former political parties. Many who suddenly sought the head of Julius Abure to be served on a platter were rolling on the floors, begging for tickets. Some couldn’t even afford to pay for the nomination forms.
“The same LP leadership stood by our then governorship candidate in Abia through thick and thin, snubbing all sorts of pressures, weathering the political and judicial storms to ensure that victory was achieved. Today, these leaders are now dancing ‘Gwo gwo gwo ngwo’ with us. What a shame, what a betrayal.”
The internal conflict has escalated in recent weeks. The Labour Party recently took legal action against INEC, accusing the electoral body of attempting to replace Abure’s leadership with the newly appointed caretaker committee.
INEC, in response, argued that the tenure of Abure and his executive members had expired, leading to the formation of the caretaker committee.
Ifoh called the arrangement illegal and undemocratic, accusing INEC of meddling in the party’s affairs to destabilize its leadership. He urged party members not to trust INEC, citing its controversial role in the 2023 general election.
“As you are aware, the party has since sued INEC challenging its exclusion from the commission’s refresher training for uploading party agents ahead of the Edo and Ondo governorship elections. However, INEC had in a counter-affidavit, filed in response to our suit argued that the Labour Party’s leadership, including Julius Abure, is invalid, stressing that it does not recognise the party’s March 2024 National Convention.
“Every Nigerian alive knows the role INEC played in the 2023 general election and how the electoral will of the people were dashed. It amazes us that those who suffered from this INEC’s ineptitude in 2023, are now joining forces with the commission against the party leadership. For these leaders, there is no qualm to leverage on the INEC’s standpoint of illegality to attempt to seize the leadership of the party.
“We sincerely want to advise these leaders that INEC is and can never be the model on which to launch their annexation agenda. The 2023 saga is still fresh. In one breath, we demonised INEC. In another, you are seen fraternising with them. I ask, where was this loyalty when INEC failed to protect the will of the people in 2023? Let us not be fooled. INEC has not changed, and come 2027, they will once again serve you the portage with the same dish,” he stated.
