Abure: Labour party sets up disciplinary committee, summons national treasurer

The leadership of the Labour Party (LP) has set up a disciplinary committee to try its National Treasurer, Ms Oluchi Opara.

A statement signed on Tuesday, by the party’s National Publicity Secretary, Obiora Ifoh, accused Ms Opara of bringing the party to disrepute and misinforming the general public on the internal affairs of the party, contrary to the rules and regulations of LP.

In line with earlier  reports that Opara had on Monday, accused Julius Abure, the party’s National Chairman, of fraud and financial mismanagement.

Addressing a press conference on Monday, Oluchi alleged that since assuming office in 2021 as National chairman, Abure has engaged in a series of actions that not only undermine the principles upon which the Labour Party was founded but also constitute grave violations of trust and fiduciary responsibility.

According to the National Treasurer, Abure’s tenure has been marred by forgery, embezzlement, and corrupt enrichment.

She further alleged that the embattled National Chairman depleted the party’s bank accounts, often through fraudulent means, including forging the signature of the late national chairman, Alhaji Abdulkadir Abdulsalam, immediately after his demise.

Opara, therefore, challenged Abure to account for more than N3.5 billion being party funds raised from the sale of nomination and expression of interest forms for the 2023 general elections.

Following the allegation, the party’s National Working Committee (NWC) convened an emergency meeting on Tuesday, where an agreement was reached to set up a disciplinary panel, inviting Opara to appear before it on Wednesday.

“Arising from the emergency meeting of the National Working Committee of the Labour Party, the leadership of the party has set up a disciplinary committee to try the National Treasurer, Ms Oluchi Opara, for bringing the party to disrepute and misinforming the general public on the internal affairs of the party against the rules and regulations of the party.

“At the meeting held Tuesday evening February 13, 2024, in Abuja, and presided over by the Deputy National Chairman, Mrs Ladi Iliya, the party extends an invitation to the National Treasurer to appear before it on Wednesday February 14, 2024, by 10am at the Conference Hall of the Party National Headquarters.

“The party leadership is also calling on the teaming members of the party to be patient with it while it also assures that the ill wind will soon be resolved,” the party said in a statement on Tuesday night.