Governor Alex Otti of Abia State has pointed fingers at Julius Abure, the factional National Chairman of the Labour Party (LP), accusing him of being at the center of the party’s ongoing internal crisis.
In an interview aired on Nigeria Info FM on Wednesday, Otti’s Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Ferdinand Ekeoma, strongly criticized Abure, alleging that his actions are undermining the very principles on which the Labour Party was founded.
“Mr. Abure is the one destroying the Labour Party. He’s betraying the progressive ideals of the party and, by extension, betraying Nigerians,” Ekeoma stated during the program.
Accusations of Self-Interest and Party Mismanagement
Ekeoma went on to allege that Abure has compromised the party’s integrity to further his own personal interests. He promised that evidence of these actions would be made public when the time is right.
“At the right time, we will prove that this man sacrificed the party’s integrity for selfish reasons,” he said.
This comes in response to Julius Abure’s recent public threats to reveal damaging information about Governor Otti and the Labour Party’s 2023 presidential candidate, Peter Obi. Abure had earlier vowed to expose both figures, claiming they would “come out smelling like bad eggs.”
Lack of Structure Before Otti’s Involvement
Highlighting what he described as poor leadership under Abure, Ekeoma noted that the party had no established presence in several states before prominent figures like Otti joined.
“For instance, before Governor Alex Otti and others joined, the Labour Party didn’t even have an office in Abia. Yet Abure acted as though the party was firmly rooted across the country,” he noted.
Clarification on Financial Support
While rejecting allegations of bribery, Ekeoma acknowledged that party officials, including Abure, did receive logistical and financial support during the 2023 general elections.
“I’m not talking about bribes—I’m talking about support. It wasn’t wrong to assist the national chairman or the party. But there were compromises everywhere you looked,” he explained.
Response to Abure’s Challenge for Proof
When asked about Abure’s public demand for proof of wrongdoing, Ekeoma dismissed it, calling the chairman’s attitude unserious and boastful.
“If Abure meant well for the party, he wouldn’t be boasting. We’re just laughing. He thinks he’s dealing with kids,” Ekeoma remarked.
The rift between Governor Alex Otti and Labour Party Chairman Julius Abure continues to deepen, with accusations of betrayal, mismanagement, and lack of transparency at the core of the conflict. As the crisis unfolds, party loyalists and the public await the promised evidence that could shape the future of LP leadership.
