The internal crisis rocking the Labour Party took a dramatic turn on Wednesday as a caretaker committee led by Nenadi Usman, with the backing of Abia State Governor Alex Otti and 2023 presidential candidate Peter Obi, launched a probe into alleged corruption and forgery by embattled National Chairman Julius Abure.
Usman made the announcement during a press conference in Abuja, held in response to a recent National Executive Council (NEC) meeting convened by the Abure-led National Working Committee.
She revealed that a disciplinary panel, chaired by Senator Ireti Kingibe (FCT) and with party stalwart Peter Ameh as secretary, had been constituted to investigate the allegations against Abure and recommend sanctions if necessary.
“Following a thorough review of the Supreme Court judgment delivered on April 4, 2025, the NEC is gravely concerned by Mr. Abure’s continued impersonation as the National Chairman,” Usman stated. “To protect the party’s image and integrity, we have set up a special committee to examine his actions. Mr. Abure is hereby given 48 hours to respond and explain why disciplinary action should not be taken.”
She added that a formal notice would be sent to Abure’s last known address, urging him to focus on addressing the serious allegations of corruption, forgery, perjury, and criminal conspiracy rather than further tarnishing the party’s reputation.
The Usman-led committee also dismissed Abure’s recent attempt to sanction Governor Otti as illegitimate, asserting that his tenure and authority had expired. “Abure and his dissolved NWC lack the legal or moral standing to discipline any party member, including Dr. Otti,” Usman said, offering an apology on behalf of the party to both Otti and Obi for Abure’s previous remarks.
In retaliation, Abure’s faction convened a separate NEC meeting, during which it announced the suspension of Otti and six other prominent party figures—Senator Kingibe, Senator Darlington Nwokocha, Victor Afam Ogene, Amobi Ogah, and Seyi Sowunmi—over alleged anti-party conduct.
Abure, in a statement, confirmed that a disciplinary committee had been set up to investigate the alleged infractions and submit a report within two weeks. He reiterated the faction’s commitment to peace and reconciliation, urging aggrieved members to set aside differences for the party’s sake.
The committee, chaired by Dr. Ayo Olorunfemi and including Alhaji Umar Farouk as secretary, later submitted its findings, which were ratified by the factional NEC on May 7. The affected members were subsequently suspended indefinitely from all party activities.
In a follow-up statement, Farouk questioned Usman’s legitimacy, stating that she was not a registered member of the Labour Party but rather a supporter of the Obidient movement. “As she is not a party member, she is not subject to internal disciplinary measures,” the statement read.
With both factions entrenched and issuing competing directives, the leadership crisis continues to deepen, raising fears over the Labour Party’s stability and unity ahead of future national elections.
