THE crises rocking the Labour Party (LP) since last year’s general elections has deepened, as it is now faced with internal crises, power play and allegations of financial mismanagement, which have threatened its foundation and stability.
The latest crisis followed the call by the purportedly suspended national treasurer of the party, Oluchi Okpara, on leaders of the party, especially those elected members on its ticket, who are statutory delegates, to wake up and save the LP from an impending disaster.
Her call came against the backdrop of a reply by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to an application for a Certified True Copy (CTC) of the purported LP Convention in Nnewi, Anambra State, which it said it did not monitor; hence cannot report on it.
According to Okpara, the tenure of Mr. Julius Abure as national chairman elapsed in June this year and, therefore, any action taken by him and other members of the former National Working Committee (NWC) will be null and void forthwith, recalling: “The tenure expired in June 2023, but was extended by one year in Asaba by the NEC.”
Recall that INEC had disowned the said Nnewi national convention almost immediately, with Chief Press Secretary to INEC Chairman, Mr. Rotimi Oyekanmi, indicating then that the conduct of the convention was not monitored by the Commission.
Continuing, Okpara charged all elected members of the party, Abia State Governor Alex Otti, senators and House of Representative members to come together to ensure LP does not die by convoking a NEC meeting to deliberate on the process that would lead to an a inclusive convention to be conducted at a later date.
She warned that if Abure was allowed to submit any name to INEC, it would void the candidacy of the prospective aspirant, as he no longer has legal authority to do so.
As if responding to Okpara’s call by, Otti had moved to dissolve the party’s national, state, local government and ward executives, citing alleged expired tenures.
But the Abure-led NWC accused him of attempting to disrupt the party’s smooth operation, urging members to respect the party’s constitution and leadership and constituted a standing disciplinary committee to address any further infractions.
The party also noted that INEC had not officially communicated any objections to the convention or the tenure of the executives, stressing that LP a party for the people, not controlled by one person, whose ideology and principles must be maintained.
