Crisis in Labour Party as Treasurer Urgently Seeks Answers on N3.5bn from Chairman Abure

The Labour Party (LP) is grappling with a fresh crisis, with its National Treasurer, Mrs Oluchi Oparah, calling for National Chairman Julius Abure to provide a detailed account of party funds exceeding N3.5 billion. The funds in question are purportedly proceeds from the sale of forms and various fundraisers aimed at supporting the party’s activities for the upcoming 2023 general elections.

Oparah addressed the media on Monday during a press conference held in Abuja, expressing her concerns over the alleged financial mismanagement within the party. The treasurer accused Abure of obstructing her from fulfilling her constitutionally assigned role of overseeing the party’s accounts.

During the press conference, Oparah disclosed that despite numerous attempts, the chairman has resisted all efforts to open the party’s financial records for scrutiny, particularly after the closure of the sale of expression of interest and nomination forms for the 2023 general elections.

Addressing reporters, Oparah stated, “Good morning, ladies and gentlemen of the press. 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,” she added.