THE Labour Party (LP) has suspended its National Treasurer, Ms. Oluchi Opara, for six months with immediate effect allegedly for bringing the party to disrepute.
This fallowed the approval of the recommendation of a disciplinary committee to its National Executive Council (NEC) through the National Working Committee (NWC), according to the National Publicity Secretary, Mr. Obiora Ifoh, at a press conference at the party’s national secretariat in Abuja.
Recall that Opara had earlier challenged the National Chairman, Mr. Julius Abure, to account for an alleged N3.5billion raised from the sale of nomination forms and fundraising activities in the build-up to last year’s general elections.
Speaking on a television programme, Opara further alleged that the Abure-led NWC was working hand-in-hand with the Peoples Democratic Party-led (PDP) Edo State Government to scuttle the party’s chances in the September governorship election.
But Ifoh swiftly described Opara as a mole being used by dissidents in the party, saying contrary to Oparah’s claim, the sum of N1.2billion, and not N3.5 billion, was realised from the sale of forms to aspirants last year, membership cards, donations and other sources.
He further explained that N800million was given to LP by campaign bodies and support groups, “solely managed by the campaign organisation, not the party,” insisting that the text of the press conference read by Opara, a copy of which was tendered at one of the NWC meetings in December last year, was “written for her since November last year by the camp of the dissident former members.
“The leadership of the party made series of efforts to dissuade her from not pulling down the roof of the home she has lived in for 10 years, as the longest serving treasurer in the history of a political party in Nigeria.”
He stated that the party’s accounts have been audited up to June last year and was submitted and received by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), but denied the allegation that the audited accounts were doctored, daring Opara to substantiate her allegations.
Ifoh explained that a five-man investigation committee was raised at the last NWC meeting “to take a critical look at the allegations with the mandate to within one month, resolve the impasse and make recommendations to the committee of the whole, adding: “Opara, and indeed all members of the NWC, were present at the meeting and endorsed the committee.”
He disclosed that the decision to sanction her was taken after she failed to honour the NWC invitation to resolve the conflict.
