Why I Visited Wike in Abuja: Abure Breaks Silence

Why I Visited Wike in Abuja: Abure Breaks Silence

Factional chairman of the Labour Party (LP), Julius Abure, has clarified the nature of his recent meeting with Nyesom Wike, Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), following widespread criticism within the party. The controversy erupted after images of Abure’s meeting with Wike in Abuja circulated online, prompting accusations from party members who viewed it as a betrayal of LP’s principles.

Speaking at the party’s National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting in Abuja on Monday, Abure insisted the meeting was a personal interaction, not a political maneuver. He emphasized that, as a resident of the FCT, he has every right to engage with public officials in the federal government, including the FCT minister. “The meeting was privileged and, therefore, was purely a private meeting,” Abure stated, dismissing speculation about its intent.

Abure also seized the opportunity to reaffirm his leadership within the party, crediting his tenure with expanding LP’s national influence. “We have controlled this party for many years, and by the grace of God, today, the party has become one of the biggest political parties in Nigeria, under my watch,” he said.

The meeting with Wike comes at a time of deepening division within the Labour Party. Two factions currently claim control over the party’s national structure—one led by Abure and the other by former finance minister Usman Nenadi, who has assumed the role of interim national chairman. The power struggle has raised concerns over the party’s stability ahead of the 2027 elections, as both factions continue to assert their legitimacy.

The exact purpose of Abure’s meeting with Wike remains unclear. However, it occurred shortly after the Abure-led faction called on Peter Obi, LP’s 2023 presidential candidate, to resign from the party following his decision to join a coalition led by the African Democratic Congress (ADC). Wike, a Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) member currently serving in an All Progressives Congress (APC) government, has been accused by some opposition figures of fueling internal conflicts within rival parties, including the Labour Party.