Julius Abure, the National Chairman of the Labour Party, has responded to allegations of financial misappropriation raised by the party’s embattled National Treasurer. Abure refuted claims that the party had amassed over N3.5 billion in revenue, asserting that this figure was inaccurate. Speaking during an interview on Arise Television’s Morning Show, Abure addressed the ongoing crisis within the party.
The suspended Treasurer, Mrs. Oluchi Oparah, had accused Abure of withholding access to the party’s financial records and bank accounts. She demanded accountability for funds exceeding N3.5 billion, purportedly raised through the sale of forms and various fundraisers for the 2023 general election. Oparah claimed that despite repeated requests, Abure had refused to disclose the party’s financial details since the closure of form sales.
In response, the Labour Party’s National Working Committee (NWC) imposed a six-month suspension on Oparah, labeling her a mole aligned with dissenting factions aiming to sow discord within the party. The National Publicity Secretary of the LP, Mr. Obiora Ifoh, announced the suspension, defending the party’s stance against Oparah’s allegations.
Abure challenged Oparah to provide evidence supporting her claim of N3.5 billion in election funds, stating that the party’s audited reports showed a different figure. According to Abure, the audited statements of accounts for 2022 to 2023 confirmed total deposits of N1.3 billion into the party’s account. He also mentioned an additional N700 million allocated directly to the campaign organization for election activities. Abure questioned Oparah’s assertion and urged her to present the records justifying her claim of N3.5 billion generated during the election period.