Three members of the Labour Party in the House of Representatives have vehemently dismissed their purported suspension from the party, labeling it as “laughable” and a desperate maneuver by former chairman Barrister Julius Abure, whom they described as a “dethroned emperor” attempting to cling to power.
Abure, recently ousted by a Supreme Court ruling, announced the suspension of Hon. Afam Victor Ogene, Leader of the Labour Party Caucus, Hon. Seyi Sowunmi, Deputy Leader, and Hon. Amobi Ogah, a prominent caucus member. The announcement also included the suspension of Abia State Governor Dr. Alex Chioma Otti, Senators Ireti Kingibe and 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 their astonishment that Abure, instead of focusing on rebuilding the party, appeared intent on orchestrating its disintegration to satisfy external interests.
“It is clear to anyone following recent events that Abure has gone mad again, desperately attempting to avoid going down alone,” they stated. “It is utterly absurd that someone who demonstrated a lack of moral integrity during his tenure now claims the authority to sanction party leaders.”
The lawmakers criticized Abure’s leadership, asserting that his Supreme Court-nullified status has rendered him a self-serving figure acting out of personal interest rather than the party’s welfare. They challenged him to identify any notable additions to the party since the Peter Obi effect of 2023, accusing him of leading the party to disastrous outcomes across various regions.
“Under his leadership, the party has been run like a criminal enterprise, with aspirants fleeced of their hard-earned cash in exchange for party tickets,” they added, emphasizing the failures of his tenure.
They also ridiculed Abure’s media antics, questioning why a former national chairman would resort to “running around media houses like a press boy,” and dismissed his attempts to implement a “fake suspension order” following unsuccessful attempts to replace Hon. Ogene as caucus leader.
Concluding their statement, the representatives warned that while Abure may see himself as an undertaker for the Labour Party, he is ultimately supervising the deterioration of his image and integrity as a public servant and political leader.