The Labour Party’s internal crisis deepened on Friday as Nenadi Usman, chairperson of the party’s caretaker committee, publicly challenged factional national chairman Julius Abure to follow through on his threat to expose Peter Obi, Alex Otti, and other key figures aligned with her faction. Speaking on a television programme, Usman dismissed Abure’s warnings as empty threats and dared him to present any evidence he claims to have.
Earlier in the week, Abure accused Obi, Otti, and others of hypocrisy regarding 2023 election funding and threatened to reveal damaging information about them. Usman responded by insisting that if Abure has evidence, he should reveal it instead of making public threats. She also stated that the party has documented evidence of Abure’s own misconduct, some of which is already under police investigation.
Usman described the ongoing turmoil as a threat to internal democracy and warned that the values of a vibrant opposition are at risk. She argued that Abure’s term as national chairman has ended and that the Labour Party was acting in line with the Independent National Electoral Commission’s directive to fill the leadership vacuum. According to Usman, Abure was asked to step aside after his tenure expired, and the Supreme Court later ruled that the lower courts had no jurisdiction to reinstate him.
Despite the Supreme Court’s decision, Abure’s name remains on the INEC website, which Usman attributed to a court order rather than a democratic process. She explained that the party’s national executive committee has since appointed a caretaker committee to oversee new congresses and elections at all levels. Usman maintained that Abure could contest in a fresh election if he wishes but accused him and his allies of trying to hold onto power through legal means rather than democratic elections.
The Labour Party’s leadership dispute continues to attract national attention, raising concerns about the stability of the opposition and the future direction of the party.
