Labour Party’s national chairman, Julius Abure, has launched a scathing attack on prominent party figures, including 2023 presidential candidate Peter Obi and Abia State Governor Alex Otti, over what he described as baseless allegations of financial impropriety and corruption.
Speaking at a press briefing on Tuesday in Abuja, Abure categorically denied ever receiving funds from Obi or Otti during the 2023 general elections and issued a bold challenge to his critics to publicly declare any financial contributions made to him or the party.
“I want to challenge all of them. Let any of them from Peter Obi down come forward and publicly declare what they personally gave to me or the party… Otherwise, let them forever remain silent,” Abure said.
Abure, who has come under increasing pressure over alleged mismanagement of party funds and a lack of internal transparency, said he had remained silent in the past to preserve party unity but warned that he would no longer hesitate to speak out.
“As a leader, I kept quiet, thinking they were making mistakes and would eventually come around. But now that some have crossed the line, I have no choice,” he declared.
“If they provoke me further, I will reveal everything. When I open my mouth, they will stink like rotten eggs no one wants to touch.”
In a direct jab at Governor Otti, Abure accused the Abia leader of making zero financial contributions to the party during the elections, despite what he described as public posturing to the contrary.
“That governor who is jumping like a cricket from one point to another, we did not collect a dime from him,” he said.
“When we met at Transcorp, he asked, ‘Chairman, what do I do for you?’ I told him, ‘Nothing. Use your money for your campaign.”
The latest outburst comes amid growing divisions within the Labour Party, which surged to national prominence in 2023 on the back of a youth-led movement supporting Obi’s presidential bid.
Since the elections, the party has struggled to maintain internal cohesion, with accusations of financial opacity, weak internal structures and strategic misalignment between its old and new guard.
Abure’s comments also appear to be a pre-emptive strike ahead of what he described as a forthcoming “world press conference” to address the rift more comprehensively.
Political analysts suggest the deepening crisis may have long-term consequences for the party’s future ahead of key off-cycle elections in 2026 and the next general election in 2027.
Obi, who finished third in the 2023 presidential race, has yet to respond to Abure’s latest remarks.
Similarly, Governor Otti has remained silent on the accusations, though his media team has dismissed internal party wrangling as “distracting noise” in the past.
