Abure's Claim to Labour Party Leadership Challenged: "Impunity's End" - Nenadi Usman
"Labour Party's Previous Titleholder of the National Chairmanship Position is Abure"
The Chairperson of the Caretaker Committee of the Labour Party (LP), Nenadi Usman, has declared that the non-recognition of Julius Abure as the National Chairman of the party by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) marks the end of impunity within the party.
This statement comes in the aftermath of the Supreme Court judgment, which left both parties, Abure's camp and the party leadership, in anticipation of INEC's interpretation of the ruling.
While Abure continues to argue that INEC has acknowledged his leadership, the electoral body has publicly distanced itself from these assertions. INEC has clarified that it has not reinstated Abure as the party's valid leader.
Abure, a former prominence within the Labour Party, has encountered significant resistance within the party. He persists in claiming that his leadership position has been recognized by INEC, a claim that the electoral body has categorically rejected.
In a statement released on Friday, Nenadi Usman denounced Abure's actions, terming them "desperate" and "illegitimate." She characterized Abure's attempts to claim leadership as "a travesty on the intelligence of Nigerians."
"Julius Abure is a former National Chairman of the Labour Party. His tenure and legitimacy have expired, and no quantity of manipulation, media propaganda, or unauthorized press briefings can resurrect a deceased mandate," Usman stated.
Usman also accused Abure and his supporters of disseminating false information and trying to seize control of the party for personal gain. She emphasized that the LP is not a personal undertaking, but a platform built on democratic principles and values.
"It is preposterous and disrespectful that Abure and his clique continue to parade themselves as leaders with no legal standing, moral credibility, or institutional backing. The Labour Party belongs to the people, not a cabal," Usman added.
Usman reaffirmed that the Labour Party stands for integrity, transparency, and adherence to the rule of law. She made it clear that the party would not condone any form of brigandage or covert attempts to seize power.
Nuggets of Interest
- The Labour Party has been grappling with a leadership crisis, with a significant dispute involving Julius Abure and Nenadi Usman.
- The conflict erupted when Oluchi Oparah, the party's national treasurer, accused Abure of misappropriating N3.5 billion, a charge Abure denied.
- Nenadi Usman's caretaker committee has taken a strong stance against Abure and called for disciplinary actions against him.
- The situation remains volatile, with both factions vying for control and legitimacy within the Labour Party.
- Other claimants to the party leadership, aside from Abure and Usman, include Lamidi Apapa.
- Nenadi Usman, chairperson of the Labour Party's Caretaker Committee, has criticized Julius Abure's claim of being recognized as the National Chairman by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), insisting that Abure's tenure and legitimacy have expired.
- Usman denounced Abure's actions as desperate and illegitimate, characterizing his attempts to claim leadership as a travesty on the intelligence of Nigerians.
- The LP, according to Usman, is a platform built on democratic principles and values, not a personal undertaking, and she accused Abure and his supporters of disseminating false information and trying to seize control of the party for personal gain.
- The Labour Party, Usman reaffirmed, stands for integrity, transparency, and adherence to the rule of law, and will not condone any form of brigandage or covert attempts to seize power.
- Other claimants to the Labour Party leadership, aside from Abure and Usman, include Lamidi Apapa, further complicating the leadership crisis within the party.
