The Labour Party (LP) faction led by Julius Abure has accused Peter Obi, former presidential candidate, of orchestrating the crisis in the party.
Umar Ibrahim, the LP national secretary in Abure’s camp, made the claim while responding to Obi’s recent interview.
Obi had said the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) infiltrated the party, triggering the crisis within its ranks.
In a statement issued on Tuesday, Ibrahim accused Obi of misleading Nigerians on the actual cause of the party’s crisis, noting that nearly all political parties are grappling with one form of internal conflict or the other.
“We sincerely hope that he should introspect and move away from these ill-conceived narratives,” the statement reads.
“It is therefore pertinent to put on record that the problem with the Labour Party was not created by the ruling party (APC), rather the problem in the Labour Party was created and sustained by Peter Obi and Dr. Alex Otti, the governor of Abia State, who is presently serving suspension for anti-party activities.”
Ibrahim asked Obi to “produce any tangible or intangible evidence” suggesting that Abure’s leadership of the LP is “in bed with the APC-led government”.
“Nobody is infallible, and it behoves anyone who makes mistakes to be bold enough to own it,” the statement added.
“When good leaders fail, they should own up to their responsibilities. Obi failed to provide leadership for the party.
“He should own up to his mistakes. It is therefore shameful for Peter Obi and Dr. Alex Otti to continue to accuse the government of infiltrating Labour Party and by so doing demarketing the party.
“We are therefore calling on Peter Obi and other aggrieved members of the party to understand and digest the fact that Barrister Julius Abure’s leadership has come to stay and nothing can change that.”
Ibrahim added that the LP leadership under Abure could not have worked for Obi’s success during the 2023 election only to hobnob with the APC.
