Honourable Afam Ogene, the leader of the Labour Party caucus in the House of Representatives, has voiced concerns over the alleged interference by the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), claiming it is backing Julius Abure to deepen divisions within the opposition.
Julius Abure, who has faced immense pressure over his contested position as National Chairman, now finds himself at the heart of a political storm. While the Supreme Court nullified the Court of Appeal’s earlier recognition of Abure, the resulting confusion has only widened the rift within the party.
Speaking during a televised interview on Wednesday, Honourable Afam Ogene made it clear that, despite being removed from office following the Supreme Court’s decision, Julius Abure still has the opportunity to contest again for the role of National Chairman provided he follows the appropriate electoral procedures.
“His removal doesn’t equate to an expulsion from the party,” Ogene remarked. “If he wishes to return as chairman, he is free to do so, but it must be done in line with the Labour Party’s constitutional framework beginning from the ward level up to the national.”
Ogene accused the ruling for strategically supporting Abure in order to sow discord within the Labour Party, a move he believes is calculated to destabilise the opposition ahead of future elections.
“The All Progressives Congress is not a neutral observer here. There’s strong evidence pointing to their involvement in this internal crisis, aimed at weakening our structure from within,” Ogene stated, without mincing words.
The key Labour Party figures, on Wednesday, including its 2023 presidential candidate Peter Obi and Abia State Governor Alex Otti, supported the formation of a caretaker committee. The committee, chaired by former Finance Minister Senator Nenadi Usman, is expected to take over the reins of the party and guide it through this challenging period.
The formation of the committee was announced during the party’s National Executive Council (NEC) meeting held at the Transcorp Hilton Hotel in Abuja.
The high-profile gathering included prominent party stakeholders such as Obi’s running mate, Datti Baba-Ahmed, various senators, and Labour Party members of the House of Representatives.
Despite Abure’s faction still occupying the party’s national headquarters, Ogene assured that this would soon change. He confirmed that steps are already underway to reclaim the secretariat through legal and peaceful means, affirming the Labour Party’s commitment to due process.
“In a matter of days, the legitimate leadership will take control of the party’s secretariat. There’s no need for chaos—we’re acting within the law,” Ogene stated confidently.
