The leadership of the Labour Party (LP) loyal Julius Abure has pointed fingers at members of its National Working Committee (NWC) of being persecuted by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for their role in protecting the mandates of former presidential candidate Peter Obi and Abia State Lead Representative Dr. Alex Otti during the 2023 general elections.
The National Publicity Secretary of the party, Obiora Ifoh, made this public at a press conference held in Abuja.
Ifoh communicated that, rather than supporting the opposition party during its difficult time, both leaders sold out their trust by publicly teaming up with the electoral commission.
Ifoh said, “The party is dismayed by the actions of our leaders, including our former presidential candidate and our only governor, who should be defending the party at this challenging moment. They should know that the LP is going through difficult times due to its role in supporting both leaders during the 2023 general election. Our leadership stood by Obi, canvassing through every corner for votes.
“For the sake of context, many Nigerians will remember how we accommodated some of these leaders when they were denied tickets in their previous parties. Many who are now demanding the removal of Julius Abure were previously begging for tickets and couldn’t even afford the nomination forms.
“The same LP leadership supported our governorship candidate in Abia through thick and thin, resisting all pressures and overcoming political and judicial challenges to ensure victory. Now, these leaders are aligning with INEC. It’s a betrayal.”
The controversy follows the party’s recent legal move against INEC to forestall recognition of the newly introduced Nenadi Usman-led Caretaker Committee.
Two days earlier, the reporters revealed INEC’s counter-affidavit contending that the tenure of the Abure-led executives had lapsed, accordingly supporting its attempt to legitimize the 29-member committee set up by Obi, Otti, and other party stakeholders.
Ifoh vowed on Wednesday that the ‘illegal arrangement’ would not stand, zeroing in on the fact that the committee members were handpicked in an undemocratic way.
He likewise blamed INEC of attempting to destabilize the party by favouring one side and subverting the Labour Party leadership.
“As you are aware, the party has sued INEC over its exclusion from the commission’s refresher training for party agents ahead of the Edo and Ondo governorship elections.
INEC’s counter-affidavit argued that the Labour Party’s leadership, including Julius Abure, is invalid and does not recognize the party’s March 2024 National Convention.
“Everyone knows the role INEC played in the 2023 general election and how the electoral will of the people was undermined. It astonishes us that those who suffered from INEC’s ineptitude in 2023 are now aligning with the commission against the party leadership. For these leaders, there is no hesitation in leveraging INEC’s stance on illegality to seize control of the party.
“We advise these leaders that INEC should not be the model for their annexation agenda. The 2023 saga is still fresh. We condemned INEC then; now they are seen fraternizing with it. Where was this loyalty when INEC failed to protect the people’s will in 2023? Let us not be deceived.
INEC has not changed, and in 2027, it will serve you the same dish,” he stated.
