The Labour Party is embroiled in a deepening leadership crisis, marked by mutually destructive suspensions within the party.
The Nenadi Usman-led caretaker committee has suspended Julius Abure as national chairman, citing his continued impersonation of the office despite a Supreme Court judgment removing him from the position.
Abure’s actions, according to Usman, have brought the party’s image into disrepute, and his tenure has long expired.
In response, Abure’s faction suspended Governor Alex Otti of Abia State, Senator Ireti Kingibe, and several other high-ranking members for alleged anti-party activities. The suspensions were announced after a disciplinary committee submitted its report to the party leadership.
The affected members were given immediate effect, barring them from participating in any Labour Party activities.
The crisis escalated further with the Usman-led faction constituting a special investigative panel to probe Abure over allegations of misappropriation of party funds and anti-party activities.
The panel, headed by Senator Ireti Kingibe, has three weeks to submit its report and recommend sanctions.
Both factions have traded criticisms, with the Abure-led faction questioning Nenadi Usman’s moral authority to comment on corruption, citing her alleged plea bargain with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission and purported asset forfeitures.
Usman, on the other hand, maintains that Abure’s actions have nullified his membership in the party.
