The Labour Party’s National Working Committee has suspended Oluchi Opara, the party’s National Treasurer, for a period of six months.
The suspension was announced by Obiora Ifoh, the National Publicity Secretary of the LP, during a press conference held at the party secretariat in Abuja.
Opara had previously called on Julius Abure to provide a detailed account of the party’s funds, which she claimed amounted to over N3.5 billion.
She stated that these funds were generated through the sale of forms and various fundraisers for the upcoming 2023 general elections.
Opara expressed her frustration at being prevented by the National Chairman from fulfilling her role of managing the party’s accounts.
During an interview on Arise TV’s “Good Morning Show,” Opara claimed that Abure is working with the government of Edo State, which is led by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
Opara challenged Abure to deny this allegation. In response to the N3.5 billion accusations against Abure, Ifoh referred to Opara as a mole used by expelled party members.
Ifoh explained that the decision to punish Opara was made because she did not attend a meeting with the party’s NWC to address the conflict.
He said, “After the 2023 general election, Labour Party was marked for total annihilation by the system for daring to upstage the status quo of the political class. Little did we know that the fumigation was far from complete until late last year, when signs emanated that our National Treasurer, Ms. Oluchi Opara, a key member of the executive, turned out to be a mole in the house and has continued networking with the expelled members of the party leadership.
“Convinced that the treasurer is on a mission to stifle life out of our very cherished party, an emergency NWC was summoned on February 13. Arising from the meeting, the NWC set up a disciplinary committee to try Opara for bringing the party to disrepute.
“To exercise its powers as contained in the party’s Constitution with the intention of a fair hearing, the NWC extended an invitation to her to appear before it today, February 14 by 10 a.m. to discuss the development. The party regrets that the treasurer shunned the invitation by the disciplinary committee to clear herself.
“We see this as an affront to the party leadership and millions of our members who are watching how their party’s image which they have laboured hard to build is trolled by one ingrate.
“The disciplinary committee has, however, recommended to the National Executive Council of the party through the NWC that Ms. Oluchi Opara be suspended from Labour Party for a minimum of six months. This suspension is with immediate effect.
“We sincerely regret this development. We, however, urge our teeming members to understand that this is a price to pay for success. We will continue to reform the party until we achieve the best, good enough to drive our New Nigeria agenda.”
