LP Factions Conflict Over Abure's Meeting with Wike

Daftar Isi

Labour Party Faces Internal Crisis as Factions Clash Over National Chairman's Visit

A new crisis has emerged within the Labour Party (LP) as two factions have engaged in a heated debate over the recent visit of the party’s embattled National Chairman, Julius Abure, to the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike. The incident has sparked widespread controversy and raised concerns about the direction and leadership of the party.

The meeting between Abure and Wike, which was captured in photos that circulated widely on social media, has drawn sharp criticism from the National Caretaker Committee, led by Senator Nenadi Usman. This committee is reportedly formed by Abia State Governor Alex Otti and LP’s 2023 presidential candidate, Peter Obi. In a statement issued in Abuja through her Senior Special Adviser on Media, Ken Asogwa, Usman condemned the visit, calling it a betrayal of the party’s values and a confirmation of long-standing concerns about Abure’s political allegiance.

“While Mr Peter Obi is diligently focused on addressing critical national issues, and Senator Usman is holding strategic meetings abroad with Obi’s full consent, Julius Abure, the suspended former national chairman, is wining and dining with the very forces bent on destroying the Labour Party,” the statement read.

The Usman-led faction accused Abure of neglecting his duties and abandoning the party during crucial times when clear leadership and strategic direction were needed. They questioned his true intentions, stating, “He went completely missing during crucial periods when the party needed unity, vision, and grassroots mobilisation. His continued fraternisation with external political adversaries raises the question: Whose agenda is Julius Abure truly serving?”

The caretaker committee warned that the Labour Party must not be left in the hands of individuals whose interests conflict with the party’s vision of a just and progressive Nigeria. They emphasized the need for unity and a clear direction to ensure the party’s survival and relevance.

In response, the factional National Publicity Secretary of the Labour Party, Dr Abayomi Arabambi, dismissed the Usman-led group as non-existent and lacking legitimacy within the party structure. He defended Abure’s meeting with Wike, describing it as a harmless courtesy visit between political associates.

“It is just a normal visit from one opposition figure to another prominent politician. Wike is a household name and a political heavyweight in this country,” Arabambi said. According to him, the public debate over the meeting was unnecessary and even a sign of political relevance.

“It’s good that people are beginning to talk about Abure again—it means the Labour Party is still vibrant and relevant,” he added.

Arabambi also addressed claims that the Labour Party might collapse its structure to support President Bola Tinubu’s 2027 re-election bid. He firmly rejected these allegations, stating, “That’s completely false. Abure is the national chairman, not the owner of the party. We are not collapsing our structure for anyone. Besides, Wike is still a prominent member of the PDP, not the APC.”

He reaffirmed the party’s commitment to its identity and independence, stating, “As you are aware, we are not, and will never be, part of any coalition. The Labour Party remains independent and focused.” The party continues to emphasize its dedication to maintaining its ideological principles while navigating internal challenges and external pressures.