The National Chairman of the Labour Party, Julius Abure, has called on the party’s 2023 presidential candidate, Peter Obi, Abia State Governor Alex Otti, and other discontented key figures to reconcile and return to the party.
Abure made the appeal during an exclusive interview with The PUNCH.
Abure’s leadership has faced resistance from some party chieftains and stakeholders who opposed his re-election, citing the controversial Nnewi convention that reinstated him as National Chairman as neither inclusive nor expansive.
In response, Obi, Otti, and other party stakeholders formed a 29-member caretaker committee in July 2023. The committee, led by former Minister of Finance Nnenadi Usman, was tasked with organising a broader election to select new executives across ward, local government, state, and national levels.
However, after securing a Federal High Court ruling in Abuja that confirmed him as the legitimate LP National Chairman, Abure has intensified efforts to rebuild trust and restore unity among aggrieved members.
In his interview, Abure dismissed claims of an ongoing crisis within the party, asserting, “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.”
Abure also expressed concern about the economic hardships Nigerians face, stating that these challenges cannot be entirely attributed to leadership failures.
“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,” he said.
He further stressed the importance of electoral reform to address persistent issues in electing credible leaders in Nigeria.
“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.”
Abure’s appeal for reconciliation highlights his focus on fostering unity within the Labour Party while addressing broader national challenges.
