Nenadi Usman-led Labour Party summons Abure over ‘corruption, anti-party activities’

Nenadi Usman, chair of the Labour Party (LP) caretaker committee, has launched a probe into Julius Abure over allegations of corruption, misappropriation of party funds and anti-party activities.

Speaking at a press conference in Abuja on Wednesday, Usman accused Abure of “persistently parading himself as national chairman of the party despite being removed”.

She said Abure was running the party “like a personal enterprise to pursue selfish ambitions” and alleged that he used his position to enrich himself rather than promote unity.

“To address these serious allegations, we have set up a disciplinary panel chaired by Senator Ireti Kingibe, with Peter Ameh as secretary,” she said.

Usman said the panel will investigate Abure over corruption, misappropriation of party funds and anti-party activities.

She said Abure has been summoned to appear before the committee to respond to the various petitions and charges against him.

The caretaker chairperson also accused Abure of hijacking party structures by refusing to conduct congresses at the ward, local government, state and zonal levels ahead of the national convention.

She said the caretaker team will restore internal democracy in the party and release a timetable for proper congresses and elections.

Usman, a former finance minister, warned Abure to stop parading himself as party leader within 48 hours or face disciplinary action.

She said the committee was acting on the powers granted by the party’s national executive council (NEC).

“The disciplinary panel has 21 days to conclude its investigation and recommend appropriate sanctions,” she added.

The latest development comes days after the Abure-led national working committee (NWC) also set up a disciplinary committee to investigate Alex Otti, the Abia governor, over alleged anti-party activities.

The party has remained in crisis, with both factions citing the April 4 supreme court judgment as justification for their claims to LP leadership.

While Abure’s camp says the judgment validated his position, the caretaker committee insists it confirms that his tenure has expired.