LP Crisis: ‘We Have Forgiven Those Who Perceived They Had Done Us One Thing’ – Abure

The National Chairman of the Labour Party (LP), Julius Abure, has called on the party’s 2023 presidential candidate, Peter Obi, Abia State Governor Alex Otti, and other aggrieved stakeholders to reconcile and return to the party’s fold.

Abure made the appeal during an interview with Saturday PUNCH, following months of internal wrangling over his leadership and the controversial convention that reinstated him as chairman.

The embattled chairman has been at odds with several party bigwigs who opposed his reelection, citing the Nnewi convention as lacking inclusivity and representation.

In response, Obi, Otti, and other stakeholders in July established a 29-man caretaker committee headed by former finance minister Nnenadi Usman.

The committee was tasked with organizing an expanded election to bring in new executives at all levels of the party.

Despite the fallout, Abure secured a victory at the Federal High Court in Abuja, reaffirming him as the legitimate national chairman of the Labour Party.

Following his court victory, Abure has intensified efforts to restore unity within the party, appealing to estranged members to put differences aside.

He said, “I want to say there is no more crisis in the party. The court has said there is only one leader in LP. And if there is a dispute in the country or anywhere, the only place you can go for reprieve is the court. It was said that our national convention didn’t follow due process. That was why people went to court.

“INEC said we didn’t follow due process and we went to court. The court said the convention was in line with the party constitution, electoral act and the constitution of the land. INEC has since obeyed it and we are working very closely with the commission.

“All those who feel offended should come back to the party. We have forgiven all those who perceived they had done us one thing or the other. I am not angry. We have put it behind us and LP is one big family.”

Continuing, the LP chair expressed concerns that the Nigerian people are undergoing serious hardship, which he said cannot be solely blamed on the leadership.

Abure also drummed support for an effective electoral reform to resolve the recurring challenges associated with electing good leaders in the country.

He said, “Our country today is at a crossroads. It is a time for all of us to do a sober reflection. The problem is not just down to leadership. It also involves the followership.

“We need our mindset and philosophy for the Labour Party to drive a change. Electoral reform is a programme we must pursue to have leaders with dignity and integrity and drive developments in the country.”