Factional chairman of the Labour Party (LP), Julius Abure, has responded to public criticism surrounding his recent visit to the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, insisting the meeting was private and misrepresented.
Photos of the meeting, which surfaced online last week, stirred controversy and sparked speculation over the nature and timing of the visit—particularly as the LP continues to face a bitter internal leadership crisis.
Speaking during the Labour Party’s National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting in Abuja on Monday, Abure addressed the uproar:
“Last week, I met with the FCT Minister, and it attracted a lot of comments, a lot of misconceptions, and a lot of talk about the photographic events.Now that we have the privilege of convening this meeting, it’s an opportunity for me to make a few brief remarks.”
Abure emphasized that his encounter with Wike had no political undertone and should not be seen through a partisan lens:
“I want to say, firstly and very clearly, that I am in Nigeria. I live in the FCT, and Nyesom Wike is the FCT Minister.I have the right, as a Nigerian, to interface and interact with anybody, with any public officer in the federal government of Nigeria.The meeting was privileged and, therefore, was purely a private meeting.”
Taking the opportunity to reinforce his authority within the Labour Party, Abure asserted his long-standing contribution to the party’s growth:
“I also want to say clearly and quickly that we have paid our dues in the Labour Party.We have controlled this party for many years, and by the grace of God, today, the party has become one of the biggest political parties in Nigeria, under my watch.”
The visit comes at a sensitive time for the Labour Party, which is currently plagued by a leadership tussle. While Abure leads one faction, another group—led by former Finance Minister Usman Nenadi—claims legitimacy under an interim leadership arrangement.
As both factions jostle for control ahead of critical elections, Abure’s remarks appear aimed at calming internal unrest and reasserting his legitimacy amidst growing scrutiny.
