The caretaker committee of the Labour Party, led by Senator Nenadi Usman, has launched a probe into allegations of qmisconduct, including corruption, misappropriation of party funds, and anti-party activities against Julius Abure.
At a press briefing in Abuja on Wednesday, Senator Usman accused Abure of persistently parading himself as the national chairman of the party despite being removed, and of running the party as a personal enterprise to pursue selfish ambitions.
She stated that rather than fostering unity, Abure allegedly exploited his position for personal enrichment.
The caretaker committee is chaired by Senator Ireti Kingibe, with Peter Ameh serving as secretary.
The panel is tasked with investigating the allegations against Abure and recommending appropriate disciplinary measures.
But in a twist of events, the faction of the party led by Abure on Wednesday announced the indefinite suspension of the Abia State Governor, Alex Otti, Senator Kingibe, Senator Darlington Nwokocha, and three others with immediate effect.
The committee inaugurated by the Usman-led LP summoned Abure to appear before the disciplinary panel to respond to various petitions and charges brought against him.
Furthermore, the caretaker committee criticised Abure’s alleged hijacking of party structures without following due process, including the failure to conduct ward, local government, state, and zonal congresses ahead of a national convention.
The Usman-led team pledged to restore internal democracy, announcing that a timetable for proper congresses and the election of national executives will be released soon.
The development came a few days after the Julius Abure-led faction of the party set up a disciplinary committee to investigate allegations of anti-party activities against Otti and other members.
The committee, chaired by Ayo Olorunfemi, was given two weeks to submit its report.
Other members suspended are Victor Afam Ogene, Amobi Ogah, and Seyi Sowunmi.
A statement by the Abure-led faction, signed by its National Secretary, Alhaji Umar Farouk Ibrahim, read, “By this suspension, these former members of the party will no longer act for and on behalf of the party. All concerned institutions, including the Nigeria Governors Forum, the National Assembly, INEC, and security agencies, among others, are to take note.
“It will surprise Nigerians and party faithful that the name of one Nenadi Usman was conspicuously omitted from the list of the suspended members of the party.
“First, we have said repeatedly that the said Nenadi Usman was and is not a member of the Labour Party, being not a card-carrying member of the Party.
“We are aware that she is a member of the Obidient Support group that worked and is still working for the party’s 2023 presidential candidate. We will therefore not honour her with any sanction, as she is not a member of the party.”
