The Labour Party National Transition Committee (LP-NTC) has issued a strong caution to Barrister Julius Abure and his associates, advising them against the potential legal repercussions of disregarding court rulings regarding the termination of Abure’s tenure as the party’s chairman since 2023. The committee emphasized that Abure is barred from organizing valid elections within the party.
In light of this situation, the LP-NTC has urged Labour Party members across Nigeria to steer clear of any actions that could jeopardize their political futures by avoiding any unconstitutional ward, local government, and state congresses orchestrated by Abure and his group.
In a statement released over the weekend and signed by Alhaji Abdulwaheed Omar, the Chairman of the LP-NTC, it was asserted that any elections conducted by Abure’s National Working Committee (NWC) in states such as Anambra, Imo, Edo, Rivers, Akwa Ibom, Sokoto, Ondo, Kaduna, and Adamawa would be deemed legally void.
The LP-NTC further reiterated that the congresses allegedly being arranged by Abure’s NWC are futile endeavors, as Abure no longer possesses the authority to organize legitimate elections for the Labour Party. The committee characterized these activities as a waste of financial and human resources.
The committee cautioned that any elections led by Abure are unlawful and merely serve as a means to extract money from uninformed party members and the public. They described Abure’s actions as blatant defiance of a definitive court ruling from the Abuja Federal High Court delivered on March 20, 2018, by Honourable Justice Gabriel Kolawole.
Moreover, the committee pointed out that Abure’s congress attempts violate the Nigerian Electoral Act, the operations of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), and the Nigerian Constitution, which govern political party affairs.
The LP-NTC reminded members that both the INEC and Labour Party leaders, including Mr. Peter Obi, have officially distanced themselves from the fraudulent Nnewi convention that Abure claims as his authority. This convention has been widely denounced by various stakeholders as illegitimate.
Additionally, the committee noted that INEC has not sanctioned Abure’s purported congresses, similar to their rejection of the Nnewi convention, which further undermines Abure’s claims of authority.
In a call for accountability, the LP-NTC urged the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to investigate the financial activities related to Abure’s illegal congresses and to hold responsible those involved, including Abure and his associates, for any financial misconduct.
In a final note of caution, the LP-NTC reminded party members aspiring to participate in congresses that previous court rulings have invalidated elections based on illegal party structures.
They expressed their commitment to guiding the Labour Party toward transparent and democratic congresses, ultimately leading to a credible national convention.
