LP Reps counter Abure over purported suspension

By Christiana Ekpa

Three Labour Party members of the House of Representatives have dismissed their purported suspension from the party, describing it as “laughable” and a desperate attempt by a “dethroned emperor” to cling to power.

Barrister Julius Abure, former Labour Party chairman, who was ousted by a recent Supreme Court judgment, yesterday announced the suspension of the trio of Hon. Afam Victor Ogene, Leader of the Labour Party Caucus in the House of Representatives, Hon. Seyi Sowunmi, Deputy Leader, and Hon. Amobi Ogah, a prominent member of the caucus.

The embattled former chairman had also announced the suspension of the only governor elected on the platform of the party, Dr. Alex Chioma Otti of Abia State, Senator Ireti Kingibe and Senator Darlington Nwokocha, Secretary of the National Caretaker Committee of the Labour Party.

In a joint statement titled “Our Former National Chairman Goes Mad Again,” the three LP lawmakers expressed dismay that Abure, instead of working to improve the fortunes of the Labour Party, seemed focused on orchestrating its disintegration to appease external forces driving his actions.

They said further, “From yesterday’s overreach of himself and his band of jesters, it is now evidently clear to everyone who has followed recent events in the Labour Party, that our former national chairman, Barrister Julius Abure, has gone mad again, in a desperate move not to go down alone.

“It’s utterly absurd that Abure, who failed to demonstrate moral integrity during his tenure as national chairman, now claims the authority to sanction party leaders. Only in Abure’s distorted reality can those with questionable character judge others. In the real world, his Supreme Court-nullified leadership status has reduced him to a self-serving shameless impostor driven by personal gain.

“A political party is set up for the specific goal of participating in the democratic process, especially the contestation for power.

Since the Peter Obi effect of 2023, what has Abure and his gang of undertakers done to enhance the fortunes of the party? In fact, we challenge him and his cohorts to name one single individual of note that they have attracted to the party since 2023.

“From Kogi to Bayelsa, Ondo to Edo, what Abure has done is lead the Party to disastrous outcomes.

“All they have excelled in, is run the party as a criminal enterprise, fleecing aspirants of hard-earned cash in exchange for party ticket.

“Even in his native Edo, where he was dragged on the floor like a common felon because of disputations over misappropriated delegate funds, the over-bloated and egoistic Abure couldn’t even win his polling unit for the party.

“Pained of being kicked out of his lucrative position as national chairman, on account of abuse of official malfeasance, Abure and his gang of jesters have resorted to desperate antics in a bid to stay relevant.”