The Lamidi Apapa-led faction of the Labour Party (LP) has asked Peter Obi, the party’s presidential candidate in the 2023 elections, to wade into allegations of misappropriation of funds by Julius Abure, factional chairman of the party.
On Monday, Oluchi Oparah, national treasurer of the LP, at a press conference in Abuja accused Abure of allegedly misappropriating N3.5 billion belonging to the party.
She said the N3.5 billion was raised from sales of forms and fundraising activities in the build-up to the 2023 elections.
The national treasurer said she was compelled to raise alarm because the “internal mechanisms” in the party have “failed woefully” to hold Abure accountable for “brazen abuse of office and misappropriation of party funds”.
“With great reluctance and deep concern, I am compelled to publicly address the media regarding the egregious financial mismanagement and corruption that have plagued our beloved party under the leadership of Mr Julius Abure, the current national chairman,” Oparah had said.
ABURE-LED FACTION KICKS
Reacting to the allegations, Obiora Ifoh, spokesperson of the Abure-led faction, said the national treasurer is “under some external influences” and only read a press statement written by “our detractors to further tar the image of the party”.
Ifoh said no other member of the party’s national working committee (NWC) has raised any allegation of embezzlement against Abure.
He added that the party did not earn N3.5 billion from the sales of nomination forms.
“Let it be said that the Labour Party has not earned N3.5 billion as claimed and that the national chairman has not embezzled any money that belongs to the party as alleged,” Ifoh said on Monday.
‘ALLEGATIONS HAVE THROWN LP INTO TURMOIL’
Abayomi Arabambi, spokesperson of the Apapa-led faction of the party, said in a statement, that the allegations against Abure have thrown the LP into turmoil.
He said Obi’s intervention would be crucial in addressing internal matters of the party.
“These allegations of massive corruption levelled against Abure have thrown the Labour Party into turmoil, forcing us to revisit the party’s core principles and founding ideals,” Arabambi said.
“In light of these developments, this week’s scheduled National Executive Committee meeting takes on even greater significance.
“We urge Peter Obi, our presidential candidate, to actively participate in this crucial gathering and help address the party’s internal issues.”
He further said the LP is yet to submit an audit report of the financial activities for 2022 – 2023, to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
“This absence of transparency raises serious questions and warrants immediate investigation of the electoral body,” Arabambi added.
“Transparency is crucial in maintaining public trust in political parties and ensuring accountability for their financial activities.
“By withholding a party’s audit report and INEC’s not raising alarm over such an act, casts a shadow over its operations and risks eroding public confidence.
“It is imperative that the National Chairman of INEC, Prof. Mahmood, delves into this matter to understand the reasons behind the delay and ensure compliance with regulations.
“While a prompt and thorough investigation is necessary to shed light on the Labour Party’s finances and address any potential concerns, it is overdue, and INEC must act swiftly and decisively to uphold the integrity of the electoral process and guarantee transparency in political party activities.”