The group said that if the party is desirous to emerge victorious in the September 2024 Edo Governorship Election, the legal complexity surrounding the leadership of the party must be addressed.
A group purportedly representing the 36 state chairmen of the Labour Party has passed a vote of no confidence on the national chairman of the party, Mr Julius Abure.
They asked Abure to step down over the alleged diversion of N3.5bn raised from the sale of nomination forms and fundraising activities in the build-up to the 2023 general elections.
SaharaReporters earlier reported that the suspended National Treasurer of the Labour Party, Ms. Oluchi Opara, challenged the party’s National Chairman, Julius Abure, to give an account of the donations received from Nigerians in the Diaspora during the campaign tour of LP presidential candidate, Peter Obi, in the US.
Opara, who has been suspended for six months by the national leadership of the party following her allegations, has insisted that Abure should explain the source of the funds he allegedly used to purchase houses overseas.
Abure has since denied the allegations, maintaining that there was no N3.5bn raised anywhere for the 2023 general elections.
Responding to the allegations, Abure had said: “Total summary of the money that entered into the party was N1.3bn. We also got N800m for the campaign. I want to challenge her to make the records available where she got the sum of N3.5bn.”
However, a group that claimed to be representing all the 36 state chairmen after a meeting in Bauchi, the Bauchi state capital on Monday, called for Abure to step aside over the allegations.
Addressing newsmen, the chairman of Plateau State LP, Solomon Ndem, who read the resolution of the group, said Abure should step down for a thorough investigation to be carried out into the allegations against him.
Ndem said: "In the spirit of openness and accountability as elected chairmen of Labour Party in Nigeria, we wish to address certain concerns that have come to our attention.
"We are appealing to His Excellency Peter Obi, Senator Yusuf Datti Baba-Ahmed and other distinguished personalities within the party to join us in requesting Barr. Julius Abure to step aside."
The group said that if the party is desirous to emerge victorious in the September 2024 Edo Governorship Election, the legal complexity surrounding the leadership of the party must be addressed.
"It is imperative for the party and the people of Edo to consider this matter seriously as actions of one individual should not jeopardize the efforts of our candidate and aspirations of our voters in Edo state," it said.
He, however, noted that their meeting was in good faith, adding that they remained committed to the principle of the new Nigeria project espoused by Peter Obi, the party’s candidate in the 2023 presidential election.
But not backing down on her allegations, Opara, had in a memo addressed to the national leadership of the party demanded that Mr Abure immediately answer some questions including:
"1. Provide documentation for the N3.5 billion raised from the sale of forms for the 2023 elections and why Edo State proceeds went into private accounts.
"2. Account for the N958 million raised from off-cycle elections in 2023. Provide paper trails and documentary evidence of adherence to due process
"3. Declare every single dollar raised from the 2023 US fundraising tour and provide documentation on where donations were warehoused and how same was appropriated
"4. Explain the source of funds for properties bought in Nigeria and abroad between 2022 and 2023. Provide paper evidence.
"5. Allow me unfettered access to party accounts and records as National Treasurer
"6. Submit to an independent forensic audit of our party's finances, to be conducted by a reputable international firm.
"7. Explain why he has deliberately undermined my authority and flouted the Labour Party's constitution.
"8. Provide evidence that he has not abused his office for personal enrichment through theft, money laundering, or abuse of power."
She stated that the Labour Party belongs to its broad membership, not a single power-drunk individual.
"I urge Mr Abure to do the honourable thing and submit himself to a transparent process that will restore confidence, trust, and integrity in our party's financial dealings.
"I sincerely hope the chairman seizes this opportunity to clear the air. Our loyal supporters deserve nothing less," she said.
Meanwhile, the national leadership of Labour Party has described the group as fake, adding that the authentic state chairmen of the party will soon address the media.
The national leadership of party a short statement posted on its official X (formerly Twitter) handle, said:
"Disregard trending story that State Chairmen passed a vote-of-no-confidence on @Julius_Abure & that our dear Natl. Political Icon @PeterObi will be suspended. Not true.
"It's fake, unfounded & handiwork of detractors. @inecnigeria recognized state chairmen will address the press."