A fresh crisis is brewing within the Labour Party (LP), following the demand by the party’s National Treasurer, Mrs Oluchi Oparah that the LP’s National Chairman, Julius Abure, renders an account of N3.5 billion being proceeds of sale of expression of interest/nomination forms and sundry fundraisers for the party for the 2023 general elections. Oparah made this demand at a press conference on Monday in Abuja, where she alleged that Abure interfered with her from performing her constitutionally-assigned role of handling the party’s accounts.
She said, “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 stated that Abure had ignored all efforts to open the party’s accounts for inspection, prior to the commencement of the 2023 general elections.
More details later.
