Crisis Looms In Labour Party, Treasurer Alleges Abure Siphoned N3.5 Billion

By Akinwale Kasali

Crisis is looming in the Labour Party, LP, following alleged siphoning of N3.5 Billion by the National Chairman of the Party, Julius Abure.

Oluchi Oparah, the Treasurer of the Party had demanded that the National Chairman of the Party account for the sum of N3.Billion, being proceeds from sales of forms and sundry Fundraiser for the 2023 General Elections.

At a Media Briefing today in Abuja, Oparah had demanded that Abure allow her to exercise her constitutionally assigned role of handling the party’s accounts.

She alleged Abure shunned all entireties to open the party’s books for scrutiny since the sale of expression of interest and nomination forms closed before the 2023 general elections.

Oparah said, “I stand before you today with a heavy heart and a sense of duty to the principles of transparency, accountability, and justice. With great reluctance and deep concern, I am compelled to publicly address the media regarding the egregious financial mismanagement and corruption that have plagued our beloved party under the leadership of Mr Julius Abure, the current National Chairman.

“As National Treasurer, I am constrained to come before you and the public today because the internal mechanisms of our party have failed woefully to bring Mr Abure to account for his brazen abuse of office and misappropriation of party funds.

“ His appetite for power has grown unchecked, and he has deliberately undermined my duties and authority as stipulated in the party’s constitution.”

Following this development, there is speculations that there is crisis in the Party.

It would be recalled that the Party had leadership issues leading to factionalization in the Party as there are loyalists to Lamidi Apapa led Group, while Abure was supported by the Presidential Candidate of the Party at the 2023 Presidential Election, Peter Gregory Obi, leading to crisis in the Party.

It however took the intervention of the Court for Abure to regain his Seat.