Fresh crisis has hit the Labour Party (LP) as its National Treasurer, Oluchi Oparah, has demanded that the National Chairman, Julius Abure, account for over ₦3.5bn being proceeds of sale of forms and sundry fundraisers for the 2023 general elections.
Oparah also said the chairman had shunned all entireties to open the party’s books for scrutiny since the sale of expression of interest and nomination forms closed before the 2023 general elections.
“As National Treasurer, I am constrained to come before you and the public today because the internal mechanisms of our party have failed woefully to bring Mr Abure to account for his brazen abuse of office and misappropriation of party funds. His appetite for power has grown unchecked, and he has deliberately undermined my duties and authority as stipulated in the party’s constitution.”
“Since assuming office in 2021, Mr Abure has engaged in a series of actions that not only undermine the principles upon which the Labour Party was founded but also constitute grave violations of trust and fiduciary responsibility.
“His tenure has been marred by forgery, embezzlement, and corrupt enrichment, all at the expense of the party and its members. One of the most alarming aspects of Mr Abure’s conduct is his repeated denial of my access to the party’s financial records and bank accounts. Despite my role as National Treasurer and custodian of all party funds, bank and accounting records, I have been systematically prohibited from fulfilling my duties, including accessing essential information and bank statements necessary for proper financial oversight.
Abure, in a response, signed by the National Publicity Secretary of the party, Obiora Ifoh, said that Oparah, the National Treasurer, is under some external influences and merely read out a concocted statement drafted by their detractors to further smear the image of the party.
According to him, with the exception of the national treasurer whose tenure is about to end in few weeks time, and who has served for eight years without a single record of party accounts, no other member of the NWC has raised any issue of embezzlement against Abure who made a pledge on assumption that the party has to be revamped.
