The Labour Party (LP) caucus in the House of Representatives has dismissed the recent suspension of its members by the Julius Abure-led faction as illegitimate, calling it a desperate attempt to maintain influence within the embattled party.
Background
The LP has been entangled in a long-running leadership crisis, with Abure and his loyalists on one side, and a caretaker committee led by Alhaji Bashiru Lamidi Apapa and Senator Nenadi Usman on the other. The Usman-led group is backed by key figures in the party, including 2023 presidential candidate Peter Obi and Abia State Governor Alex Otti.
In a recent ruling, the Supreme Court held that the Court of Appeal lacked the jurisdiction to affirm Abure’s position as national chairman. Despite the verdict, all factions have continued to lay claim to party leadership, resulting in further confusion and internal division.
In April, the Abure camp announced the suspension of Hon. Afam Ogene, leader of the LP caucus in the House, and named Ben Etanabene as his replacement. On Wednesday, the faction extended suspensions to include Governor Otti, Senator Ireti Kingibe (FCT), Darlington Nwokocha, Ogene, Amobi Ogah, and Seyi Sowunmi.
In response, Otti has called on the Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, to arrest Abure over alleged impersonation.
Reps Fire Back
Reacting to the latest development, LP lawmakers described the suspension announcements as “laughable,” accusing Abure of attempting to destabilize the party for personal gain.
“It’s utterly absurd that Abure, who failed to demonstrate moral integrity during his tenure as national chairman, now claims the authority to sanction party leaders,” the lawmakers said in a joint statement issued Thursday.
They argued that Abure’s actions are rooted in desperation following his removal from office and characterized him as a “shameless impostor” clinging to relevance.
“Since the Peter Obi wave of 2023, what has Abure done to build on that momentum? He and his cronies have not attracted a single credible figure to the party and have instead led it from one electoral failure to another,” they added.
Citing LP’s poor performances in recent elections in Kogi, Bayelsa, Ondo, and Edo states, the lawmakers accused Abure of steering the party toward irrelevance.
They further criticized his media appearances, stating, “Which self-respecting national chairman busies himself hopping from one media house to another like a press boy?”
The lawmakers concluded by asserting that the so-called suspension orders are baseless and have no standing within the party’s constitution or legal framework.
The statement was jointly signed by Hon. Afam Ogene, Hon. Seyi Sowunmi, and Hon. Amobi Ogah.
