In the bustling world of Nigerian politics, recent news has been marked by an internal conflict within the Labour Party. The split was visible at a high-profile political gathering in Benin City, where prominent figures of the party such as Peter Obi, the party’s former presidential candidate, and Abia State Governor Alex Otti stood out.
However, the absence of Julius Abure, the party’s national chairman, was conspicuous, fuelling rumours of betrayal by Obi and Otti.
At a press conference in Abuja, the Labour Party’s national communication secretary, Obiora Ifoh, launched a scathing attack, accusing the two leaders of conspiring with the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to undermine Abure’s leadership.
The Labour Party recently filed a lawsuit against the INEC, challenging its recognition of a newly installed transition committee led by Nenadi Usman.
Ifoh expressed frustration with Obi and Otti, saying they have turned against the party that supported them in the 2023 general elections.
“Our leadership has been on the ground with Obi, campaigning for votes. Today, these leaders are now dancing ‘Gwo gwo gwo ngwo’ with us. What a shame, what a betrayal,” Ifoh lamented.
Accusations of conspiracy and treason have rocked the Labour Party, which is mired in a bitter power struggle, with the absence of its National Chairman, Julius Abure, from the final campaign rally in Edo only widening the rift.
The Abure camp accuses Obi and Governor Otti of colluding with INEC to remove him from office.
The dispute has its roots in the appointment of a transition committee headed by former Senator Nenadi Usman, which Obi, Otti and other party stakeholders supported.
The transition committee was set up to take over the party leadership but Abure loyalists rejected the move, calling it a coup orchestrated by INEC.
At the press conference in Abuja, Ifoh expressed disbelief that those who had once benefited from the platform of the Workers Party, especially Obi and Otti, were now supporting actions aimed at undermining the party structure.
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