Julius Abure, the factional national chairman of the Labour Party (LP), has said that the party recorded unprecedented political growth during his time in office.
Gatekeepers News reports that Abure said that his administration laid the foundation for its emergence as a major contender in Nigeria’s political landscape.
Speaking during an interview on Channels Television’s Sunrise Daily, Abure dismissed claims that he was collaborating with the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) to undermine the Labour Party. He argued that his role in supporting Peter Obi’s presidential bid demonstrated his commitment to the party’s success rather than its downfall.
Abure said his leadership opened the party’s doors to many Nigerians who later secured elective positions, stressing that the Labour Party was relatively unknown before its rapid expansion under his stewardship.
According to him, significant resources, time and effort were invested in building the party, including offering opportunities to candidates who might not otherwise have emerged on larger political platforms. He expressed disappointment that some individuals who benefited from the party’s growth now question the legitimacy of the leadership that helped elevate them.
The LP chieftain further pointed to his faction’s endorsement of Peter Obi as the party’s sole candidate for the 2027 presidential election, saying the move contradicts accusations that he is working against the former Anambra governor.
Abure also attributed the deepening crisis within the Labour Party to the establishment of a caretaker committee headed by Nenadi Usman, arguing that internal disagreements could have been resolved through the party’s existing structures before the committee’s emergence.
The Labour Party has remained embroiled in a leadership dispute since the caretaker committee was constituted in September 2024. The committee has since received recognition from the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and judicial backing, including appellate court rulings that upheld decisions against Abure’s continued claim to the national chairmanship.
