Obi: Abure Was Removed by Party Constitution, Not the Government

The Labour Party’s 2023 presidential candidate, Peter Gregory Obi, has clarified that Julius Abure, the former national chairman, was removed by the party’s constitution due to the expiration of his tenure, not by any governor. Obi, represented by his running mate, Datti Baba-Ahmed, made this statement at the inaugural meeting of the party’s caretaker committee in Abuja.

Obi urged Abure and his supporters to lay down their grievances and cooperate with the caretaker committee to rebuild the party. He emphasized that Abure remains a valued and loyal member, with important roles to play within the party.

“We didn’t experience a crisis,” Obi said, “We managed a transitional phase that was a bit rocky, but no one unseated Abure. His time simply came to an end as per the party’s constitution.” He also pointed out that Labour Party’s 2023 electoral performance, including their challenge to the presidential election results in the Supreme Court, demonstrated the party’s growing influence, despite the fact that the court only recognized six million of their claimed ten million votes.

Obi reiterated that the party had warned Nigerians about the consequences of the APC’s governance, noting the current economic and security issues plaguing the nation. He assured that the Labour Party is determined to surpass its 2023 electoral success by winning both the presidential seat and a majority in the National Assembly in 2027.

Senator Nenadi Usman, Chairperson of the LP National Caretaker Committee, affirmed the committee’s commitment to addressing the party’s challenges and restoring it as a strong alternative for Nigerians. She emphasized the committee’s role in reconciliation and the importance of getting the party back on track.

Deputy Governor of Abia State, Ikechukwu Emetu, representing Governor Alex Otti, also urged the committee members to focus on strengthening the party, while Senator Darlington Nwokocha, Secretary of the Committee, outlined plans to elect party leaders at all levels, ensuring proper leadership from the grassroots to the national level.