Labour Party Crisis Deepens: Julius Abure Dares Peter Obi, Alex Otti to Reveal Election Fund Recipients

A fresh wave of tension has erupted within the Labour Party (LP) as factional National Chairman Julius Abure publicly challenged party heavyweights Peter Obi and Governor Alex Otti to name individuals who allegedly received funds for the 2023 general elections.

“Today, I want to challenge all of them, from Peter Obi downward, who contested the election. Let any of them come out and tell the world what they gave to me or to the party.

Speaking at a high-stakes stakeholders’ meeting convened at the party’s national secretariat in Utako, Abuja — organised by Rep. Joshua Chinedu Obika of the AMAC/Bwari federal constituency — Abure fired back at accusations of corruption and mismanagement, asserting that the party’s leadership rejected all financial inducements tied to electoral tickets.

“We turned down billions of naira. We refused to sell our souls for positions,” Abure said. “Yet today, those same people we stood our ground for are leading efforts to oust us.”

In a fiery declaration, Abure challenged Obi, Otti, and other LP candidates to publicly disclose any funds they claim to have given to him or the party.

“Let any of them — from Peter Obi downward — come forward and tell the world what they gave me or the party. Where, when, and how?” he demanded. “If you can’t say it openly, then forever hold your peace.”

The embattled chairman warned that he is prepared to hold a world press conference to expose what he described as the underbelly of internal party dealings. “If they make another move, I will open my mouth. And when I do, they will stink like rotten eggs — no one will touch them.”

Abure also addressed the controversy surrounding payments for party agents during the 2023 elections, claiming he had remained silent for the sake of party unity. However, he suggested that recent actions by rival factions had gone too far.

The Labour Party has been mired in a deepening leadership crisis. On one side is Abure, whose position has been contested following an April Supreme Court ruling which held that the Court of Appeal lacked the jurisdiction to affirm him as chairman. On the opposing side is a caretaker committee led by Nenadi Usman, backed by Obi, Otti, and FCT Senator Ireti Kingibe.

The Abure-led faction struck back on May 7, suspending Otti and Kingibe indefinitely for alleged anti-party activities. In response, the caretaker committee established a probe panel — chaired by Kingibe — to investigate Abure over allegations of corruption and financial mismanagement. Just days later, the committee formally suspended Abure from his role as chairman.

Otti has since petitioned Inspector-General of Police Kayode Egbetokun, calling for Abure’s arrest over alleged impersonation.