The Labour Party (LP) found itself embroiled in a leadership crisis on Wednesday as the party’s Caretaker Committee demanded that Julius Abure step down from his position as national chairman.
During a press conference in Abuja, Salisu Mohammad, Secretary of the LP’s Board of Trustees, declared, “Mr. Abure’s tenure expired on June 9, 2024. He must cease presenting himself as the party’s leader immediately.”
The announcement follows a recent stakeholders’ meeting in Umuahia, where the Nenadi Usman-led Caretaker Committee made the decision to challenge Abure’s leadership.
Mohammad elaborated on the situation, stating, “Since assuming the role after Abdulkadir Abdulsalam’s untimely passing in 2000, Mr. Abure has led without a proper election. Even INEC has requested that he vacate the chairman’s position.”
The Caretaker Committee, backed by the Nigerian Labour Congress, expressed full support for the National Executive Committee’s (NEC) decision to establish a 29-member team.
This team will organize democratic congresses to elect new party leadership at all levels.
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“Governor Alex Otti’s involvement in convening the NEC meeting was a crucial step in preserving the party’s democratic principles,” Mohammad said.
He added, “This aligns with the wishes of millions of LP supporters nationwide.”
The committee emphasized its commitment to addressing what it termed “illegalities and corruption” within the party structure, vowing to restore integrity to the LP’s leadership.
