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  • LP not a Ponzi scheme, Reps caucus tells Abure

    LP not a Ponzi scheme, Reps caucus tells Abure

    Labour Party caucus in the House of Representatives has dismissed the supposed appointment of a new leader for the caucus by the embattled former national chairman of the party, Julius Abure, saying the party was not a Ponzi scheme. 

    Leader of the caucus, Afam Victor Ogene described as laughable, naive and misleading, the purported appointment.

    In response to an earlier statement by the caucus which welcomed last Friday’s Supreme Court judgment and indicated willingness to work for the internal peace and progress of the party under the leadership of the national caretaker Committee, led by Senator Esther Nenadi Usman, Abure yesterday announced the ‘sacking’ of Afam Victor Ogene as the caucus leader.

    But the Labour Party federal lawmakers said, “The position of a caucus Leader is not an office based on appointment; rather the Leader is chosen/elected by peers based on their own conviction of his/her leadership qualities and capacity to speak on their behalf in the overall interest of the party and the people they represent.

    “The caucus made this clarification in a statement on Tuesday, in response to several inquiries from the media and other party faithful arising from developments after the Supreme Court pronouncement sacking the LP chairman”.

    The statement recalled that on May 6, 2023, a 35-member Labour Party caucus in the 10th Assembly of the House of Representatives elected Hon. Afam Victor Ogene as its Leader. Ogene, a ranking member from the 7th Assembly, emerged as the Labour Party leader with 21 votes, after a keenly contested election.

    “Although 34 Members-Elect of the Party were present at the voting session, only 31 of them took part in the exercise with the trio of Okey-Joe Onuakalusi, Obi Aguocha and Professor Lilian Oby Orogbu abstaining, being persons who conducted the exercise.

    “So, it’s only the members of the caucus who overwhelmingly elected him, that have the right to remove him as leader, not “an authoritarian power thirsty individual that’s still battling, without much success, to extricate himself from the muddy waters of multiple allegations of malfeasance,

    “If Abure’s latest ill-advised tactics is because of the stand of the Caucus lauding the judgement of the Supreme court, which unequivocally declared that Abure’s tenure has long lapsed, then he is way off-mark, because that remains the majority position of LP House of Representatives members – a fact that would be reinforced on Wednesday, April 9, by the number of legislators that will attend the NEC/Stakeholders meeting convened by the Party’s National Leader, Peter Obi and Governor Alex Otti.

    “We need to let Abure know, and boldly too, that the Labour Party is a credible organization and not a ponzi scheme, because sadly, everything about his leadership style is all about forgery, money and more money.

    “From Ebonyi, to Plateau, Ondo, Edo (where he embarrassed the party through his undignified episodes with the police), it’s all about slush funds and compromise of the integrity of the office of a party National Chairman. Even in Anambra last week, the mention of the name Abure, has continued to emit a putrid smell of financial malfeasance.

    “He may wish to tell Nigerians, and the world, what is at the centre of his feud with Eze Oko Splendour of Ebonyi State, Kenneth Imasuagbon in Edo, and the aspirants that took part in last weekend’s Anambra LP gubernatorial farce.

    Read Also: LP crisis escalates as Abure-led NEC threatens to sanction Otti, Obi

    “It is appalling that a man who is yet to account for Party finances arising from the 2023 general elections, nor leaves any penny in the party’s account – despite raising hundreds of million naira in sale of forms and other gratifications in several off-season elections – would be so engrossed in wanting to access funds belonging to the House of Representatives Caucus, which only points to the depths Abure can go to in search of free funds to fund his new-found lifestyle.

    “Ironically, no sane organ of the party would entrust the Supreme Court-sacked former national chairman with money, no matter how little, at least, until he is able to cleanse himself of the twin evil of allegations of forgery and pilfering party funds levied against him by former national treasurer of the LP, Oluchi Oparah. 

    “Funds belonging to the caucus are intact, and would only be deployed in a manner prescribed by members, not by the former chairman’s discretion.

    “The Labour Party deserves a clean break from that integrity-deficient leadership history, to a future that all party faithful will be proud to associate with.”

  • Caucus leadership not by appointment, LP Reps tell Abure

    Caucus leadership not by appointment, LP Reps tell Abure

    The Labour Party Caucus in the House of Representatives has described as laughable the purported appointment of another lawmaker as the caucus leader by the former National Chairman of the party, Julius Abure.

    This is contained in a statement issued by the Labour Party Caucus Chairman, Rep. Afam Ogene, in Abuja on Tuesday.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Abure had, in a statement on Monday, condemned the activities of the caucus chairman and consequently announced his replacement with Rep. Ben Etanebe.

    NAN also reports that Abure’s action was in response to the recent Supreme Court judgment which sacked him.

    However, Ogene, in the statement, said that the position of a caucus leader was not based on appointment, but election by colleagues based on their conviction of his/her leadership qualities.

    He said that leadership selection was based on the capacity to speak and act in the overall interest of the party and the people they represent.

    “On May 6, 2023, a 35-member Labour Party caucus in the 10th Assembly of the House of Representatives elected Hon. Afam Victor Ogene as its leader.

    “Ogene, a ranking member from the 7th Assembly, emerged as the Labour Party leader with 21 votes, after a keenly-contested election.

    “Although 34 members-elect of the party were present at the voting session, only 31 of them took part in the exercise, with the trio of Honourables Okey-Joe Onuakalusi, Obi Aguocha and Professor Lilian Oby Orogbu abstaining,” he said.

    The lawmaker said that it was only the members of the caucus who overwhelmingly elected him that had the right to remove him as leader.

    “If Abure’s latest ill-advised tactics is because of the stand of the caucus lauding the judgment of the Supreme Court, which unequivocally declared that Abure’s tenure has long lapsed, then he is way off-mark.

    “This is because that remains the majority position of LP House of Representatives members – a fact that would be reinforced on Wednesday, April 9.

    “By the number of legislators that will attend the NEC/stakeholders’ meeting convened by the party’s National Leader, Mr Peter Obi and Governor Alex Otti.

    “We need to let Abure know, and boldly too, that Labour Party is a credible organisation and not a ponzi scheme, because sadly, everything about his leadership style is all about forgery, money and more money,” he said.

    Ogene alleged that Abure had embarrassed the party at many fronts, ranging from Ebonyi, Plateau, Ondo and Edo, by his lack of dignifying conducts and gluttony.

    “He may wish to tell Nigerians, and the world, what is at the centre of his feud with Eze Oko Splendour of Ebonyi State, Kenneth Imasuagbon in Edo and the aspirants that took part in last weekend’s Anambra LP gubernatorial farce,” he said.

    Ogene said it was appalling that Abure had neither accounted for the party’s finances arising from the 2023 general elections nor left any penny in its account, despite raising millions of naira in sale of forms and other gratifications in several off-season elections.

    Read Also: Abure-led LP threatens sanctions on Otti, Obi

    He accused Abure of being engrossed in having to access to the funds belonging to the House of Representatives caucus.

    This, the caucus chairman said, only pointed to the depth to which Abure could go in search of free funds to fund his new-found lifestyle.

    “Ironically, no sane organ of the party would entrust the Supreme Court-sacked former national chairman with money, no matter how little.

    “Funds belonging to the caucus are intact, and would only be deployed in a manner prescribed by members, not at the former chairman’s discretion.

    “Labour Party deserves a clean break from that integrity-deficient leadership history to a future that all party faithful will be proud to associate with,” Ogene said.

    (NAN)

  • Abure: LP caretaker committee lauds Supreme Court 

    Abure: LP caretaker committee lauds Supreme Court 

    The Labour Party caretaker committee has hailed the Supreme Court’s ruling that upheld the appeal filed by its chairman, Senator Nenadi Usman, challenging the leadership of Julius Abure as the party’s national chairman.

    In its judgment, the Supreme Court declared Senator Usman’s appeal as meritorious, while dismissing the cross-appeal by the Abure-led faction as unmeritorious.

    Reacting to the ruling in a statement on Friday, the caretaker committee described the judgment as “a victory for the rule of law and a significant milestone for our democracy.”

    Previously, the Court of Appeal had affirmed Abure’s leadership, with Justice Hamma Barka ruling in November 2024 that Abure remained the party’s validly recognized chairman.

    Read Also: Abure’s sack a catalyst for Labour Party’s renewal – LP Reps caucus

    However, Senator Usman’s caretaker committee escalated the matter to the Supreme Court, seeking a clear interpretation of the appellate court’s decision—leading to Thursday’s verdict.

    The statement reads: “The recent ruling by the Supreme Court, which allowed the appeal filed by Senator Nenadi Usman—declaring it meritorious—while dismissing the cross-appeal filed by the Abure faction of the Labour Party as unmeritorious, is a victory for the rule of law and a significant milestone for our democracy.

    “It is important to emphasise that this is not a time for triumphalism—there is no victor and no vanquished. What matters most is our shared commitment to the ideals and aspirations of the Labour Party and the Nigerian people. We must now come together, united in purpose and vision, to move the party forward.

    “The Labour Party remains one indivisible family, steadfast in its mission to create a New Nigeria founded on justice, equity, and people-centred governance.

    “We call on all party members, supporters, and stakeholders to remain calm, focused, and committed to the democratic ideals that bind us.”

  • UPDATED: Supreme Court sets aside judgment recognising Abure as LP’s national chairman

    UPDATED: Supreme Court sets aside judgment recognising Abure as LP’s national chairman

    The Supreme Court has set aside the January 17 judgment of the Court of Appeal in Abuja recognising Julius Abure as the national chairman of the Labour Party (LP).

    In a unanimous judgment on Friday, a five-member panel of the apex court held that the Court of Appeal lacked the jurisdiction to have pronounced Abure national chairman of the LP, having earlier found that the substance of the case was about the party’s leadership.

    The judgment was on the appeal marked:SC/CV/56/2025 files by Senator Ester Nenadi Usman and another.

    In the lead judgment prepared by Justice John Okoro, but read on Friday by Justice Mohammed Baba Idris, the apex court held that issue of leadership was internal affair of a political party over which courts lacked jurisdiction.

    The Supreme Court noted that the court below found that main relief in the suit filed by the LP before the Federal High Court, Abuja was predicated on the leadership of the party ,and therefore not justiciable.

    It added that having found that the issue of leadership was not justiciable, the Justices of the Court of Appeal were wrong to have strayed beyond their jurisdiction into the realm where there pronounced Julius Abure as the National Chairman of the LP.

    The apex court added: “In summary, both the trial court and the lower have no jurisdiction to have entertained the suit by the first respondent (LP)

    Read Also: BREAKING: Supreme Court sets aside judgment recognising Abure as LP’s National Chairman

    “Flowing from above, the decisions of the trial court and the court below, recognising Barrister Julius Abure as the National Chairman of the first respondent are hereby set aside.”

    The court proceeded to strike out the suit filed by the LP before the Federal High Court for lack of jurisdiction.

    It admonish political parties and their members to always endeavour to allow their constitutions and rules guide them in choosing their leaders and als well as their candidates. 

    The court noted that by doing so the incessant wrangling and recourse to court will reduced. It advised officers of the parties, whose tenure of office has expired to not hesitate to vacate office.

    The court allowed the appeal filed by Senator Ester Nenadi Usman and one other and held that it was meritorious.

    It proceeded to dismiss the cross-appeal marked: SC/CV/56A/2025 filed by the Abure faction of the LP got being unmeritorious.

  • Abure’s sack a catalyst for Labour Party’s renewal – LP Reps caucus

    Abure’s sack a catalyst for Labour Party’s renewal – LP Reps caucus

    The Labour Party caucus in the House of Representatives has hailed the Supreme Court’s judgement sacking Julius Abure as the party’s National Chairman, calling it a much-needed catalyst for stability and reinvention.

    In a statement released on Friday, April 4, and signed by the caucus leader, Afam Victor Ogene, the lawmakers said the verdict serves as a clear warning to leaders who attempt to play ‘god’ in a democracy, where true power should rest with the people.

    Ogene described the ruling as a “veritable tonic for the revitalization of the party,” which has recently been marred by internal leadership crises. He commended the apex court for its bold and decisive judgment, saying it has given the party a new lease of life.

    The unanimous decision by a five-member panel of the Supreme Court ruled that the Court of Appeal lacked the jurisdiction to declare Abure the National Chairman, noting that the substance of the case centered on the party’s leadership structure.

    Ogene said: “Following this clear-cut judgment, the Labour Party will hasten to implement necessary mechanisms to restore internal peace and get the party back on track, in order to reassure teeming members of the party of its viability for future elections and its commitment to leadership that prioritizes the interests and welfare of the people. 

    “In fact, by next week, we expect the National Caretaker Committee, NCC led by respected former Minister of Finance, Senator Esther Nenadi Usman, to convene an all-inclusive stakeholders meeting to chart the way forward”.

    Read Also: LP caretaker committee to AGF: charge Abure, three others for ‘forgery’

    He stressed that the party’s leadership crisis could have been prevented if the ousted chairman and his team heeded the Caucus’ advice, or addressed the concerns of other stakeholders who urged caution and greater sensitivity in managing the party’s affairs. 

    He maintained that rather than do that, the leadership of of the party, in a brazen display of arrogance and naked power-mongering, Abure had ignored these warnings, thus creating an environment for crisis to fester.

    He said: “In March 2024, LP Reps called for the postponement of the National Convention of the party scheduled to take place by the end of that month, in order to allow for further consultations in the light of the party’s lingering leadership skirmishes. 

    “The caucus had emphasized at the time that the party’s health and sustainability were paramount, given its internal conflicts. And as direct representatives of the people, they felt the party needed time to resolve its leadership issues and operational problems before holding a potentially divisive convention.

    “But rather than heed that patriotic call, the party leadership proceeded to unleash tirades against them, abusing them in the media and threatening that they would be denied the party tickets for re-election in 2027. That was not only insensitive but undemocratic and disrespectful to the caucus, whose only concern was the peace, unity, sustainability and progress of the party.

    “It is this uncertainty of not being sure of getting party ticket in the next general elections that has made the Caucus to lose as much as six members.”

  • LP caretaker committee to AGF: charge Abure, three others for ‘forgery’

    LP caretaker committee to AGF: charge Abure, three others for ‘forgery’

    The National Caretaker Committee (NCC) of the Labour Party has asked the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi (SAN) to charge the party’s National Chairman, Julius Abure and three others to court over allegations of perjury, forgery and criminal conspiracy.

    The committee also wants Umar Farouk Ibrahim, Ojukwu Clement and Edward Nkwegu Okereke to face the law  for the same offence.

    Addressing a news conference  yesterday in Abuja, LP’s  Acting  Chairman of the caretaker committee, Prof. Theophilus Ndubuaku urged the AGF to bring the “suspects to court within seven days, as directed by the Inspector General of Police.”

    He said: “The Labour Party  wishes to commend the Commissioner of Police, Legal Prosecution Section, Force Criminal Investigation Department (FCID) Force Headquarters Abuja, FCT in the Office of the Inspector General of Police, IGP who wrote to the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice on the 25th October 2023, forwarding the duplicate case diary after establishing a culpable PRIMA FACIE case for which the Inspector General of Police, IGP authorised the prosecution of Julius Abure, Umar Farouk Ibrahim, Ojukwu Clement and Edward Nkwegu in the referenced case of perjury, forgery and criminal conspiracy CR: 3100/ X/LEG/FHQ /ABJ/VOL.II/1 dated 25th October, 2023.

    Read Also: The Sani Abacha in each of us

    “This demand to ensure that Julius Abure and others are prosecuted without further delays is additionally a public consensus in collaboration with the over 500 civil society organisation (CSO), and all the conveners of anti-corruption initiatives that shall mobilise not less 1000 persons per group to demand for the immediate prosecution of Julius Abure, Umar Farouk Ibrahim, Ojukwu clement and others in line with this press briefing.

    “That the The Labour Party National Caretaker Committee (NCC) has noted with great bewilderment how the suspects Julius Abure goes about bragging and boasting that as far as his sister remains the permanent secretary of Ministry of Justice in Abuja, that nobody can prosecute him nor his criminal accomplices.

    “That these criminal elements violated with impunity the FCT High Court Restraining Order of 4th April 2023 that restrained Julius Abure, Alhaji Umar Farouk Ibrahim, Ojukwu clement for perjury, forgery and criminal conspiracy from parading themselves as National officials of the Labour Party LP and how they proceeded to conduct illegal and unlawful NEC meeting in Asaba Delta State on 17th April 2023 while on subsisting FCT High Court Restraining Order and yet paraded themselves as officials of the Labour Party in Nigeria is still a mystery and their unlawful action rendered illegal null and void.

    “That the The Labour Party National Caretake Committee, NCC hereby call on the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice (HAGF-MJ) to without further delay bring the suspects to Court within seven (7) days, as directed by the Inspector General of Police, IGP.”

    But the National Publicity Secretary of the Abure – led faction, Obiora Ifoh, in a statement said their claim  in “entirety is fallacious, misleading and a calculated attempt to malign the image of Julius Abure, the National Chairman of the Labour Party.”

    Ifoh said: “First the forensic report and the investigative Police report from the Police have stated clearly that there was no forgery. The file that was forwarded to the Attorney General has since been returned to the Police on the ground that the forensic report exonerated the four persons clearly. Meaning that they have no case to answer and this is to the knowledge of Prof Ndubaku and his co-jesters. It is therefore laughable that someone will be giving ultimatum to the Attorney General of the Federation in a case that is not in existence. It is therefore clear that Mr. Ndubaku and his gang are acting in bad faith, using every available opportunity to tarnish the image of the party. Members of the Public has since known them for their rascality.

    “Secondly, it is in the public domain that some of these people assiduously and violently working to take over the leadership of the party are not even members of the party, including Ndubaku. The NLC according to the laws that established it has no power to even set up the Political Commission in the first instance. Letters from INEC, Ministry of Labour and other quarters have pointed to this fact. Also, the last time I checked, the leadership of the NLC in their last NEC meeting set up a committee to work out an alliance between it and other political parties ahead of 2027 general election. So Ndubaku and his cohorts are even not aware that the cabal that set his Transition Committee has since left the bus stop. So who are they working for?

    “Let me sincerely advise Mr. Ndubaku and his co-travellers to go and look for another job to do. In this political business, Labour Party is different from other political parties. We have shown that we are a great and purposeful organisation working for the greater interest of Nigeria. These men must be dreaming if they think that they can hijack the Labour Party and use it for their selfish goal. Labour Party is not available for that, and I advise them to go and find a decent job to do. No amount of pressure, blackmail or false information can force the leadership to handover the party to them.”

  • LP caretaker committee wants Abure, three others charged for alleged forgery

    LP caretaker committee wants Abure, three others charged for alleged forgery

    The National Caretaker Committee (NCC) of the Labour Party has asked the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi (SAN) to charge the National Chairman of the party, Julius Abure and three others to court over allegations of perjury, forgery and criminal conspiracy. 

    The committee also wants Umar Farouk Ibrahim, Ojukwu clement and Edward Nkwegu Okereke charged for the same offence by the AGF.

    Addressing reporters on Monday in Abuja, Acting chairman of the Labour Party (LP) National Caretaker Committee (NCC), Prof. Theophilus Ndubuaku urged the AGF to bring the “suspects to Court within seven (7) days, as directed by the Inspector General of Police, IGP.”

    Read Also: Rivers emergency declaration: Okpebholo faults Jonathan

    He said: “The Labour Party LP wishes to commend the Commissioner of Police, Legal Prosecution Section, Force Criminal Investigation Department (FCID) Force Headquarters Abuja, FCT in the Office of the Inspector General of Police, IGP who wrote to the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice on the 25th October 2023, forwarding the duplicate case diary after establishing a culpable PRIMA FACIE case for which the Inspector General of Police, IGP authorised the prosecution of Julius Abure, Umar Farouk Ibrahim, Ojukwu clement and Edward Nkwegu in the referenced case of perjury, forgery and criminal conspiracy CR: 3100/ X/LEG/FHQ /ABJ/VOL.II/1 dated 25th October, 2023.

    “This demand to ensure that Julius Abure and others are prosecuted without further delays is additionally a public consensus in collaboration with the over 500 civil society organisation (CSO), and all the conveners of anti-corruption initiatives that shall mobilise not less 1000 persons per group to demand for the immediate prosecution of Julius Abure, Umar Farouk Ibrahim, Ojukwu clement and others in line with this press briefing.

    “That the The Labour Party National Caretake Committee, NCC has noted with great bewilderment how the suspects Julius Abure goes about bragging and boasting that as far as his sister remains the permanent secretary of Ministry of Justice in Abuja, that nobody can prosecute him nor his criminal accomplices.

    “That these criminal elements violated with impunity the FCT High Court Restraining Order of 4th April 2023 that restrained Julius Abure, Alhaji Umar Farouk Ibrahim, Ojukwu clement for perjury, forgery and criminal conspiracy from parading themselves as National officials of the Labour Party LP and how they proceeded to conduct illegal and unlawful NEC meeting in Asaba Delta State on 17th April 2023 while on subsisting FCT High Court Restraining Order and yet paraded themselves as officials of the Labour Party in Nigeria is still a mystery and their unlawful action rendered illegal null and void. 

    “That the The Labour Party National Caretake Committee, NCC hereby call on the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice (HAGF-MJ) to without further delay bring the suspects to Court within seven (7) days, as directed by the Inspector General of Police, IGP.”

    But the National Publicity Secretary of the Abure – led faction, Obiora Ifoh in a statement said the statement in “entirety is fallacious, misleading and a calculated attempt to malign the image of Barrister Julius Abure, the National Chairman of the Labour Party.”

    Ifoh said: “First the forensic report and the investigative Police report from the Police have stated clearly that there was no forgery. The file that was forwarded to the Attorney General has since been returned to the Police on the ground that the forensic report exonerated the four persons clearly. Meaning that they have no case to answer and this is to the knowledge of Prof Ndubaku and his Co jesters. It is therefore laughable that someone will be giving ultimatum to the Attorney General of the Federation in a case that is not in existence. It is therefore clear that Mr. Ndubaku and his gang are acting in bad fate, using every available opportunity to tarnish the image of the party. Members of the Public has since known them for their rascality.

    “Secondly, it is in the public domain that some of these people assiduously and violently working to take over the leadership of the party are not even members of the party, including Ndubaku. The NLC according to the laws that established it has no power to even set up the Political Commission in the first instance. Letters from INEC, Ministry of Labour and other quarters have pointed to this fact. Also, the last time I checked, the leadership of the NLC in their last NEC meeting set up a committee to work out an alliance between it and other political parties ahead of 2027 general election. So Ndubaku and his cohorts are even not aware that the cabal that set his Transition Committee has since left the bus stop. So who are they working for?

    “Let me sincerely advise Mr. Ndubaku and his co-travellers to go and look for another job to do. In this political business, Labour Party is different from other political parties. We have shown that we are a great and purposeful organisation working for the greater interest of Nigeria. These men must be dreaming if they think that they can hijack the Labour Party and use it for their selfish goal. Labour Party is not available for that, and I advice them to go and find a decent job to do. No amount of pressure, blackmail or false information can force the leadership to handover the party to them.”

  • LP has no favoured aspirant for Anambra Gov race, says Abure 

    LP has no favoured aspirant for Anambra Gov race, says Abure 

    Ahead of Anambra gubernatorial election, the National Chairman of Labour Party (LP) Barrister Julius Abure has assured the two aspirants in the April 5 primary of a level-playing ground.

    He gave the assurance on Thursday while receiving the nomination and expression of interest forms of Dr. George Moghalu at the party’s national Secretariat in Abuja on Thursday.

    Abure noted that inability of major political parties to allow contestation and internal democracy have denied the country to the best candidates to occupy offices.

    He maintained that the Labour Party had resolved to change the narrative by ensuring that due process is followed for the emergence of any of its candidates.

    He said: “For us in Labour Party we are determined to change that narrative, to change the trajectory and we want to assure the aspirant that our own primary for the Anambra governorship election is going to be free, fair and credible.

    “I want you to take it to the bank, that it is the people of Anambra State and more precisely, Labour Party members that will be the determinant of who flies the party ticket.

    “I want to say without any equivocation or contradiction and want to be challenged with the statement that there will not be godfatherism and we have no anointed aspirant and the process will not be skewed towards an aspirant and I assure again that the process will be free, fair and credible.”

    Read Also: Abure sets up three-man committee to resolve conflict with LP lawmakers

    Abure appealed to the aspirant to do the needful by continuing to sell himself, endear himself to the people, especially members of the party responsible for electing the candidate.

    Before submitting the N30 million nomination and expression of interest forms, the frontline aspirant and immediate Managing Director of National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA), George Moghalu said he was in the race to change the trajectory of the state.

    The former National Auditor of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), who decamped to LP last year, lamented despite the vast potentials of the state, it has not been able to attain the desired state.

    According  to him: “Anambra state is blessed state with all its potentials, but we are not where the state should be now. We need to rejig the leadership. This exactly is the force behind my ambition.”

    Assuring that he would not disappoint the party leadership if he wins the ticket, Moghalu said: “Mr. Chairman and your team, I assure you, I will not let you down. I am going into this race, the governorship of our state with the determination to win the election and we shall win by the grace of God.

    “Giving the opportunity to fly the flag of our party, provides us with the opportunity to have a state we can call our own.”

  • Abure sets up three-man committee to resolve conflict with LP lawmakers

    Abure sets up three-man committee to resolve conflict with LP lawmakers

    The Labour Party has set up a three – man Intervention and Truce Committee to resolve the conflict with its elected lawmakers in the National Assembly. 

    The Committee members include Hons Ben Etanabene (Chairman), Mathew Nworgu and Chinedu Obika.

    Inaugurating the Committee at the party’s National Headquarters in Abuja, the national chairman of the party, Julius Abure tasked the lawmakers to liaise with the Labour Party legislators in both chambers of the National Assembly with a view to identifying and resolving all the challenges in the relationship between the lawmakers and the party.

    In a statement by the National Publicity Secretary of the Labour Party, Obiora Ifoh, Abure said: “We have invited you and entrusted you with this very all important assignment of bringing together all our members in the National Assembly, both in the Senate and House of Representatives for the purpose of bridging the gaps and resolving all issues that may have existed.

    Read Also: Abure-led LP to NLC: no merger talks with another political party, group

    “There is a need for all our members, about 40 of you to be on the same page with the party leadership. You are our ambassadors at the National Assembly and we are proud of some of you and the values you have exhibited but we think there are still some gaps that needed to be plugged, hence the urgency for this assignment. 

    “We expect that within two weeks from today, you would have concluded the assignment and report back to the leadership of the party. We can assure you that the party will do all it can to ensure that enduring truce is achieved within the party and particularly with a key stakeholder such as the NASS caucus.”

    In their response, the three lawmakers pledged their loyalty to the party leadership and assured the leadership of their desire and willingness to take the assignment very seriously. 

  • Abure-led LP to NLC: no merger talks with another political party, group

    Abure-led LP to NLC: no merger talks with another political party, group

    The Julius Abure-led leadership of the Labour Party (LP) has said the party will not merge with another political party or group.

    Its National Publicity Secretary Obiora Ifoh said this in a short statement forwarded to The Nation yesterday in Abuja.

    The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) had directed its organ – the National Administrative Council (NAC) – to take immediate steps to rebrand the party.

    One of such steps, the umbrella labour body said, was to look for a merger or form a coalition with another party to defend its interests and those of Nigerian workers in the party with a view to reclaiming the party.

    Read Also: 2027: Abure-led LP accuses NLC of attempting to destabilise party

    In a communiqué issued at the end of its National Executive Council (NEC) meeting in Yola, the Adamawa State capital, by NLC President Joe Ajaero, the union said the decisions would return the LP to its original ideological roots.

    But responding to an enquiry by The Nation, LP spokesperson Ifoh said: “The LP has not contemplated any merger and will not be merging with anyone or group.

    “We are, however, not opposed to any group working with the party for the sake of strengthening the party for future elections.”

    The NLC has failed to recognise the leadership of Julius Abure as LP’s National Chairman after a convention in Anambra State returned him as head of the party.