Again, Abure fires Obi, Otti over LP’s internal crisis, denies APC’s infiltration

From Sola Ojo, Abuja

The Labour Party (LP) under Julius Abure-led leadership has rebuffed claims by Mr. Peter Obi that the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) has infiltrated the party’s leadership and was fuelling internal divisions.

In a statement by the party’s National Secretary, Alhaji Umar Farouk Ibrahim, the LP accused Obi and Abia State Governor, Dr. Alex Otti of instigating and sustaining the crisis within the party.

“The problem in the Labour Party was not created by the ruling party rather the crisis was created and sustained by Peter Obi and Dr. Alex Otti,

“We dare Obi to produce any tangible or intangible evidence to suggest that the Abure-led leadership is working with the APC,” the statement read in part.

Abure’s reaction was coming after an interview granted by Obi in which he alleged that the APC government was meddling in LP’s internal affairs.

However, the Abure’s leadership criticised Obi for making what it described as baseless allegations without proof.

Farouq defended embattled Abure, citing his contributions during the 2023 elections, from coordinating national campaigns to defending Obi’s mandate in the courts.

“Abure travelled across Europe and the United States to galvanise support for Obi. He also stood firm during the legal tussles up to the Supreme Court,” Farouq said.

The LP leadership further accused Obi and Otti of setting up an “illegal and unconstitutional Caretaker Committee” in Umuahia, Abia State, thereby sowing division within the party.

The party also addressed a recent controversy involving verbal exchanges between Abure and Governor Otti.

While Abure was accused of referring to Otti as “dwarfy in knowledge,” the party claims the comment was a response to Otti’s alleged derogatory remark, calling the national chairman “masturbating”

“The governor never retracted nor apologised for that reckless statement,” the LP stated, accusing Otti of disrespecting the party’s leadership, despite Abure’s role in helping him win the 2023 governorship election.

Farouq, however, called for party unity and an appeal to Obi and other aggrieved members to accept the leadership of Julius Abure.

“One takeaway from Obi’s interview is that he has acknowledged that Abure is the National Chairman of the Labour Party. We are, therefore, calling on him and others to understand that Abure’s leadership has come to stay,” Farouq added.