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WAR IN LABOUR PARTY: USMAN GROUP SUMMONS ABURE OVER CORRUPTION, ANTI-PARTY ACTIVITIES AS ABURE FACTION SUSPENDS GOV OTTI, SENATOR KINGIBE, OTHERS
Nenadi Usman, chair of the Labour Party (LP) caretaker committee, has launched a probe into Julius Abure over allegations of corruption, misappropriation of party funds and anti-party activities.
Speaking at a press conference in Abuja on Wednesday, Usman accused Abure of “persistently parading himself as national chairman of the party despite being removed”.
She said Abure was running the party “like a personal enterprise to pursue selfish ambitions” and alleged that he used his position to enrich himself rather than promote unity.
“To address these serious allegations, we have set up a disciplinary panel chaired by Senator Ireti Kingibe, with Peter Ameh as secretary,” she said.
Usman said the panel will investigate Abure over corruption, misappropriation of party funds and anti-party activities.
She said Abure has been summoned to appear before the committee to respond to the various petitions and charges against him.
The caretaker chairperson also accused Abure of hijacking party structures by refusing to conduct congresses at the ward, local government, state and zonal levels ahead of the national convention.
She said the caretaker team will restore internal democracy in the party and release a timetable for proper congresses and elections.
Usman, a former finance minister, warned Abure to stop parading himself as party leader within 48 hours or face disciplinary action.
She said the committee was acting on the powers granted by the party’s national executive council (NEC).
“The disciplinary panel has 21 days to conclude its investigation and recommend appropriate sanctions,” she added.
The latest development comes days after the Abure-led national working committee (NWC) also set up a disciplinary committee to investigate Alex Otti, the Abia governor, over alleged anti-party activities.
The party has remained in crisis, with both factions citing the April 4 supreme court judgment as justification for their claims to LP leadership.
While Abure’s camp says the judgment validated his position, the caretaker committee insists it confirms that his tenure has expired.
Meanwhile, the Abure-led group has announced the indefinite suspension of Governor Alex Otti of Abia State, Senator Ireti Kingibe, Senator Darlington Nwokocha, Victor Afam Ogene, Amobi Ogah, and Seyi Sowunmi.
The party suspended the above listed chieftains following the report of a panel set up to investigate Otti and other members for alleged anti-party activities.
On May 2, 2025, the National Executive Committee, NEC, of the Labour Party set up a five man Disciplinary Committee headed by the Deputy National Chairman, Dr Ayo Olorunfemi, Alhaji Umar Farouk Ibrahim, the National Secretary and three others to investigate Otti and any other party members over allegations of anti party activities.
The Disciplinary Committee concluded its assignment and submitted their report to the party leadership.
The National Executive of the party met May 7th, 2025 and after exhaustive deliberation in line with powers given to it by the Party Constitution ratified the recommendation as submitted by the Disciplinary Committee.
However, a statement by Umar Farouk Ibrahim, LP’s National Secretary, said: “Consequent upon that, the following members of the party have been suspended from the party and all its activities, indefinitely and with immediate effect.
“Dr Alex Otti, Senator Ireti Kingibe, Senator Darlington Nwokocha, Hon. Victor Afam Ogene, Hon. Amobi Ogah, and Hon. Seyi Sowunmi
“By this suspension, these former members of the party will no longer act for and on behalf of the party. All concerned institutions including the Nigeria Governors Forum, the National Assembly, INEC and security agencies among others are to take note.”
LP also insisted that Nenadi Usman’s name is not on the list because she is not a member of the party.
The party charged Nenadi to reveal her plea bargain with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC.
The statement added: “It will surprise Nigerians and party faithfuls that the name of one Nenadi Usman was conspicuously omitted from the list of the suspended members of the party. First, we have said repeatedly that the said Nenadi Usman was and is not a member of the Labour Party being not a card carrying member of the Party. We are aware that she is a member of the Obidient Support group that worked and is still working for the party’s 2023 presidential candidate. We will therefore not honour her with any sanction being not a member of the party.
“Again, we are aware that Ms Usman recently in a well televised occasion, in cohort with a former Kaduna state governor joined another political party where she pledged loyalty to the party. We are clearly confused where Usman Nenadi’s loyalty lies.
“The party leadership is also surprised that Nenadi Usman is talking about corruption when indeed she is the head mistress of corruption. Nigerians are already aware of all the EFCC cases against her and we expect Ms Usman to come out and explain to Nigerians the story behind her Plea Bargain with EFCC and all the properties she allegedly forfeited. She should also tell Nigerians how she acquired her radio station in Kaduna, all her properties all over Nigeria and abroad, her companies in Cameroon, including her plantations. Nenadi Usman lacks the moral capacity to commence any probe or even talk about corruption.
“In any event, the party’s financial records are straight and it will interest the members of the public to know that the party’s audited account has been published. INEC being the regulatory body sent their external auditors to audit the party’s account and they gave a clean report and as well commended the party for its financial transparency. It is on record that among the comity of Political Parties in Nigeria, Labour Party financial records was adjudged to be among the best.
“Finally, the party has since taken a position on the issue of coalition and we want to reiterate that the party is not interested in any overtures by any group or persons to go into any coalition or merger. Like we have earlier stated, the protagonists of the coalition; those driving the agenda lack the capacity, the character and competence to midwife such a political arrangement. These are people who have failed to manage one political party, how can they manage an amalgam of political parties and their varied interests. Labour Party intends to prosecute the 2027 general election as stand alone party and no further discussion will be entertained on this matter.”
