Julius Abure, the National Chairman of the Labour Party (LP), recently expressed his lack of interest in the Edo State gubernatorial race.
He made this statement during an interview on Arise Television on Thursday.
He stated, “I’m not interested in the gubernatorial race; I feel that the process must be open, transparent, and competitive.
“I have fought over the years that we have had leadership failures in the country because other political parties that produced leaders have lacked internal party democracy, and therefore the best cannot come out of the parties.
“Now that I have the opportunity in Edo, I will work with the National Working Committee (NWC) to ensure that the process is free, fair, and credible.
“I have the responsibility to ensure the party gets the best candidate for the people of Edo State. Once again, I have no interest in becoming the gubernatorial candidate in the state.”
The party chairman addressed the suspension of Oluchi Okpara, the party’s National Treasurer, due to unproven accusations of financial wrongdoing against Abure. He claimed that the problems within the party were instigated by external individuals who aimed to prevent any legitimate opposition in the country.
His words, “If you follow activities closely, you will understand that the party came under heavy attacks after the 2023 general elections, to destroy the foundations so that there won’t be credible opposition in the country.
“It is obvious that a lot of people are being used to disrupt and cause chaos at the party.”
Her suspension occurred just 24 hours after the party formed a disciplinary panel to investigate her request for Abure to be held accountable for N3.5bn in funds from the sale of forms and other sources during the 2023 general elections.
The National Publicity Secretary of the party, Obiora, announced the NWC’s decision at a press conference in Abuja on Wednesday, accusing the Treasurer of following the agenda of former party members who are dissatisfied.
He said, “At the meeting held Tuesday evening, February 13, 2024, in Abuja, in the exercise of its powers as contained in the Party’s Constitution with the intention of a fair hearing, the NWC extended an invitation to the National Treasurer to appear before it on Wednesday, February 14, 2024, by 10 a.m. (12 hours) to discuss the recent development.
“The party regrets that the National Treasurer shunned the invitation by the disciplinary committee to clear herself and her actions.
“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.”
