The Julius Abure-led faction of the Labour Party has publicly criticized former presidential candidate Peter Obi and Abia State Governor Alex Otti for alleged betrayal following significant sacrifices made for their political ambitions during the 2023 elections.
At a press conference in Abuja, National Publicity Secretary Obiora Ifoh expressed disappointment over the perceived sidelining of the Labour Party after extensive support was given to leaders like Obi and Otti, particularly when they faced challenges in securing nominations from other parties, according to NaijaNews.
Ifoh highlighted that many of these leaders were once in desperate need of backing from the Labour Party, even lacking the means to pay for nomination forms.
He stated that the LP leadership worked tirelessly to promote them, canvassing votes across the country.
He accused Obi and Otti of abandoning their commitments, saying, “Today, these leaders are now dancing with us. What a shame, what a betrayal.”
Ifoh also criticized the leaders for their current alliance with the Independent National Electoral Commission, asserting that those who previously condemned INEC for its handling of the elections are now cooperating with it to undermine the party’s leadership.
He warned that the current leadership, elected at a valid convention, should not be challenged until the next scheduled convention in 2028.
He stated that it is surprising that some who contributed to the success of the convention are now leading efforts to dismantle its outcome.
Ifoh said, “Some couldn’t even afford to pay for the nomination forms. The LP leadership went to the trenches with our Presidential Candidate, cascading through the nooks and crannies of Nigeria canvassing for votes.
“We went through the entire judicial hurdles, dared the principalities and powers. We were haunted, maligned and in some cases chased around by agents of the state because of our unflinching commitment and uncompromised standing with our Presidential candidate.
“The same LP leadership stood by our then governorship candidate in Abia through thick and thin, snubbing all sorts of pressures, weathering the political and judicial storms to ensure that victory was achieved.
“Today, these leaders are now dancing ‘Gwo gwo gwo ngwo’ with us. What a shame, what a betrayal.
“Every Nigerian alive today knows the role INEC played in the 2023 general election and how the electoral will of the people were dashed. It amazes us that those who suffered from this INEC’s ineptitude in 2023, are now joining forces with the Commission against the Party leadership.
“For these leaders, there is no qualms to leverage on the INEC’s standpoint of illegality to attempt to seize the leadership of the party.
“We sincerely want to advise these our leaders that INEC is and can never be the model on which to launch their annexation agenda. The 2023 saga is still fresh.
“In one breath, we demonised INEC, in another second, you are fraternizing with them. Is it not paradoxical that some of these leaders who were victims of INEC’s dereliction and mismanagement of the 2023 general election are now the ones quoting INEC, and joining forces with it, just to victimize the leadership of the Labour Party.
“Is it not seemingly absurd that the INEC you are embracing today and welcoming with open arms is the same INEC, which betrayed us during the last election. I ask, where was this loyalty when INEC failed to protect the will of the people in 2023?
“Let us not be fooled, my friends. INEC has not changed, and come 2027, they will once again serve you the portage with the same dish.
“In as much as we are not saying that Abure or his executive members must remain in office ad-infinitum, however we would like to make it abundantly clear that this current National Working Committee is a product of a valid convention.
“It will take another convention in 2028 to enthrone a new executive. It is even surprising that some of the dramatis-personae who played key role in the success of the convention are now the ones leading the vanguard to exterminate the product of the convention.”
