The National Chairman of the Labour Party (LP), Julius Abure, has urged the party’s 2023 presidential candidate, Peter Obi, Abia State Governor Alex Otti, and other dissatisfied stakeholders to reconcile and return to the party.
Abure made this appeal in an exclusive interview with Saturday PUNCH, during ongoing efforts to address internal disputes and strengthen unity within the Labour Party.
The embattled chairman has faced significant opposition from some party leaders, particularly over his reelection at the Nnewi convention. Many stakeholders criticized the convention for its perceived lack of inclusivity, prompting Obi, Otti, and other party members to form a 29-member caretaker committee in July. This committee, led by former Finance Minister Nnenadi Usman, was tasked with organizing a more representative election for new executives.
Despite the controversy, a recent Federal High Court ruling in Abuja reaffirmed Abure as the legitimate national chairman of the Labour Party. Following this legal victory, Abure has intensified his efforts to bridge divisions and rebuild unity within the party.
Addressing the party’s situation, Abure dismissed claims of an ongoing crisis, stating, “I want to say there is no more crisis in the party. The court has said there is only one leader in LP. And if there is a dispute in the country or anywhere, the only place you can go for reprieve is the court.”
He clarified that disputes over the national convention’s process were taken to court because of concerns raised by INEC. “It was said that our national convention didn’t follow due process. That was why people went to court. INEC said we didn’t follow due process and we went to court. The court said the convention was in line with the party constitution, electoral act, and the constitution of the land. INEC has since obeyed it, and we are working very closely with the commission,” he explained.
Abure called on discontented members to return to the party and emphasized the importance of forgiveness and collective progress. “All those who feel offended should come back to the party. We have forgiven all those who perceived they had done us one thing or the other. I am not angry. We have put it behind us and LP is one big family,” he added.
Addressing Nigeria’s broader challenges, Abure pointed out the pressing economic issues facing the nation and called on both leaders and citizens to reflect and contribute to national development. He stressed the importance of electoral reforms to ensure the election of capable and honest leaders.
“Our country today is at a crossroads. It is a time for all of us to do a sober reflection. The problem is not just down to leadership. It also involves the followership,” he concluded.
