The crisis rocking Nigeria’s Labour Party took a dramatic turn on Tuesday as members of the party’s caucus in the House of Representatives rejected what they described as a “laughable” attempt by Julius Abure, the ousted National Chairman, to appoint a new caucus leader.
In a statement released in Abuja, Hon. Afam Victor Ogene, the current Caucus Chairman, declared that the move to replace him with Rep. Ben Etanabe was illegal, undemocratic, and a desperate attempt by Abure to cling to relevance following his removal by the Supreme Court. The Labour Party caucus emphasized that leadership in the National Assembly is determined not by fiat, but by the collective will of lawmakers.
Ogene, a ranking member of the 7th Assembly, was elected by a majority of Labour Party lawmakers in the 10th National Assembly on May 6, 2023. Of the 35-member caucus, 21 voted in his favor in a transparent and keenly contested election, despite three members abstaining. According to him, only those who elected him have the constitutional right to remove him—not a former party chairman grappling with legitimacy issues.
He linked Abure’s latest move to his frustration over the caucus’ public support for the Supreme Court ruling that officially ended his tenure as party chairman. Ogene noted that Abure’s actions reek of desperation and are driven by his obsession with controlling party funds.
Read also: Supreme court removes Julius Abure as Labour Party national chairman
The caucus leader didn’t hold back, accusing Abure of running the party like a Ponzi scheme. He claimed that under Abure’s watch, the Labour Party became synonymous with forgery, greed, and internal chaos. From Ebonyi to Edo, Ondo to Plateau, Abure allegedly embarrassed the party with his controversial conduct and persistent hunger for power and money.
Ogene challenged Abure to publicly explain his bitter feuds with several high-profile party figures, including Eze Oko Splendour of Ebonyi, Kenneth Imasuagbon in Edo, and gubernatorial aspirants in Anambra, where the LP’s primary elections turned into what he called a “farce.”
Worse still, Ogene alleged that Abure had failed to account for the party’s financial resources, despite collecting millions through the sale of nomination forms for the 2023 general elections and subsequent off-cycle elections. According to the caucus, not a single naira was left in the party’s coffers when Abure exited.
Ogene revealed that Abure had also been eyeing the funds belonging to the Labour Party caucus in the House of Representatives, claiming this was the real reason behind his attempt to hijack the caucus leadership. He described Abure’s interest in the caucus finances as a dangerous sign of how far he would go in pursuit of personal gain.
“Let it be clear: the funds of the Labour Party caucus are intact and will be used solely at the discretion of the caucus members. No sane structure of the party will ever entrust Abure with even a kobo, especially after his disgraceful exit,” Ogene asserted.
With Labour Party leaders like Mr. Peter Obi and Governor Alex Otti set to convene a National Executive Council (NEC) meeting on Wednesday, April 9, Ogene said the majority of LP lawmakers will reaffirm their support for his leadership, further isolating Abure.
He concluded with a passionate call for a new era in the Labour Party—one defined by transparency, accountability, and leadership integrity. “It’s time to break away from Abure’s dark legacy and rebuild the Labour Party into a political force Nigerians can be proud of.”
