LP Chair Abure Asks Peter Obi, Alex Otti, Aggrieved Members To Return

The National Chairman of the Labour Party (LP), Julius Abure, has called on the party’s 2023 presidential candidate, Peter Obi, Abia State Governor Alex Otti, and other discontented stakeholders to reconcile and rejoin the party.

Abure appealed during an exclusive interview with Saturday PUNCH (not ABN TV), amidst ongoing efforts to resolve internal party disputes and foster unity within the LP.

The embattled chairman has faced criticism from party chieftains over his controversial reelection at the Nnewi convention, which some stakeholders argued lacked inclusivity. This discontent led Obi, Otti, and others to establish a 29-member caretaker committee in July, headed by former Finance Minister Nnenadi Usman, to oversee an expanded election of new executives across all levels.

However, a recent victory at the Federal High Court in Abuja reaffirmed Abure as the legitimate national chairman of the Labour Party. Since the ruling, Abure has intensified efforts to mend fences with aggrieved members and restore unity.

Speaking on the party’s current state, Abure denied allegations of a 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.

“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 further urged all disenchanted members to reconcile with the party, emphasizing forgiveness and unity. “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.

Abure also highlighted the economic challenges facing Nigerians, urging both leaders and citizens to reflect and contribute to national development. He emphasized the need for electoral reform to ensure the emergence of competent leaders with integrity.

“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 noted.