Nenadi Usman moves against Julius Abure with a disciplinary panel probing corruption, party fund abuse and anti-party moves. Read what triggered this crackdown.
ABUJA, NIGERIA – The leadership crisis rocking the Labour Party (LP) took a dramatic turn on Wednesday as the newly appointed caretaker committee led by former Finance Minister, Senator Nenadi Usman, officially summoned embattled party leader Julius Abure over a series of weighty allegations.
Addressing journalists at a press conference in Abuja, Usman accused Abure of persistently parading himself as national chairman despite being sacked and replaced by a caretaker committee authorized by the party’s National Executive Council (NEC).
According to her, Abure’s leadership has been characterized by gross misconduct, financial misappropriation, and anti-party activities, which allegedly weakened the party’s internal cohesion and democratic processes.
“He ran the Labour Party like a personal business empire for his selfish ambition and personal gain,” Usman said.
To address the crisis and restore discipline, Usman announced the constitution of a disciplinary panel headed by Senator Ireti Kingibe, with Peter Ameh serving as secretary. The panel has been given 21 days to conclude its investigations and submit recommendations for possible sanctions.
Abure, she said, has been summoned to appear before the panel to respond to the corruption charges, mismanagement of party funds, and defiance of party resolutions.
“We expect him to stop parading himself as the party’s national chairman within 48 hours or face disciplinary measures. The days of impunity are over,” she warned.
She also accused Abure of hijacking party structures by refusing to conduct congresses at the ward, LGA, state, and zonal levels ahead of the national convention, thereby blocking the emergence of genuine grassroots leadership.
The caretaker committee assured party members and Nigerians that it will soon release a new timetable for fresh congresses and elections to restore internal democracy and rebuild confidence in the Labour Party.
The development comes on the heels of a parallel move by the Abure-led faction, which recently announced a disciplinary committee targeting Governor Alex Otti of Abia State, also over alleged anti-party activities—an action widely perceived as retaliatory.
The conflict between the two factions has deepened since the Supreme Court judgment delivered on April 4. While the Abure-led camp claims the judgment affirms his chairmanship, Usman’s committee insists it confirms the expiration of Abure’s tenure and the need for a new leadership structure.
As both sides dig in, party supporters fear the ongoing tussle could undermine Labour Party’s credibility ahead of future elections if left unresolved.
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