Julius Abure, the factional National Chairman of the Labour Party (LP), has issued a stern warning to the party’s 2023 presidential candidate, Peter Obi, cautioning him against what he described as attempts to blackmail the party.

 

In a statement released on Tuesday by the faction’s National Secretary, Alhaji Umar Farouk Ibrahim, Abure responded to comments Obi made during an Arise TV interview on Monday. In the interview, Obi reportedly accused the All Progressives Congress (APC)-led Federal Government of infiltrating the Labour Party and engineering internal strife.

 

The Abure faction, however, rejected Obi’s claims, insisting that the internal crisis was not instigated by the APC, but rather by Obi himself, along with Abia State Governor Alex Otti, who is currently suspended for alleged anti-party activities.

 

“The leadership of the Labour Party takes exception to Mr. Obi’s unfounded allegations,” the statement read. “When pressed for evidence, Obi provided none, except a claim that Abure once referred to Governor Otti as a dwarf.”

 

The faction further criticized Obi for allegedly misleading Nigerians about the root of the crisis in the party, urging him to reflect on his actions and stop pushing what they called a false narrative.

 

“We challenge Obi to present any proof — tangible or otherwise — that links the Abure-led leadership to the APC government,” the statement continued.

 

According to the Abure camp, Obi has failed to provide effective leadership and should take responsibility for the party’s issues, rather than blaming external interference.

 

The statement also clarified that the Labour Party has no plans to form alliances with other parties, asserting that it had every chance to do so in 2023 but chose to support Obi and Otti throughout the election period.

 

“When good leaders fail, they should admit it. Obi must take ownership of his role in the party’s current challenges,” the statement concluded.