“If I Open My Mouth, Obi, Otti Will Be Like Smelly Eggs” – Abure Fires Back Over Campaign Funds Allegations

Julius Abure, the embattled national chairman of a faction of the Labour Party (LP), has issued a stern challenge to Peter Obi and Abia State Governor Alex Otti, demanding they reveal any payments made to party officials during the 2023 elections. Speaking at a stakeholders’ meeting held at the party’s national secretariat in Utako, Abuja on Monday, Abure denied receiving any financial contributions from either Obi or Otti, and warned that if pushed further, he would publicly disclose damaging information.

The meeting, convened by Joshua Chinedu Obika, a House of Representatives member representing AMAC/Bwari federal constituency, comes amid growing tensions within the party. Abure accused some LP elected officials of attempting to remove the current national leadership despite what he described as their sacrifices and refusal to accept bribes in exchange for political tickets.

“We rejected billions of naira,” Abure said. “Today, they are leading efforts to throw us out.”

He went further to dare Obi, Otti, and others to publicly state what they gave him or the party during the 2023 elections. “Let them say who they gave money to, where they sent it. If they have any evidence, they should come out. If they don’t, let them hold their peace,” Abure said.

He warned that if provoked, he would call a global press conference to reveal everything. “When I open my mouth, wherever they go to, they will be like smelly eggs, rotten eggs that nobody will ever buy,” he said.

His remarks follow the widening leadership rift in the LP. The party is currently split between Abure’s faction and a caretaker committee led by Nenadi Usman, which is supported by Obi, Otti, and Senator Ireti Kingibe of the FCT.

The Supreme Court in April ruled that the Court of Appeal lacked jurisdiction to declare Abure the LP chairman, prompting both factions to claim victory in the ongoing power tussle. On May 7, Abure’s faction announced the suspension of Otti and Kingibe for alleged anti-party activities. That same day, the caretaker committee set up a panel led by Kingibe to investigate Abure over accusations of corruption and fund mismanagement.

Shortly afterward, the committee announced Abure’s suspension as national chairman, while Otti petitioned the Inspector-General of Police to arrest Abure for alleged impersonation.