Peter Obi, the Labour Party’s presidential candidate in last year’s election, has responded to allegations of betrayal made by Julius Abure, the embattled National Chairman of the party.
Abure had accused Obi and Dr. Alex Otti, the party’s only governor from Abia State, of conspiring against him.
This accusation came after a stakeholders meeting in Umuahia, Abia State, where a former Minister of Finance, Mrs. Esther Nenadi Usman, was elected as the chairperson of a 29-man caretaker committee.
The purpose of the committee was to address and resolve the ongoing leadership crisis within the Labour Party.
Abure reportedly expressed his dissatisfaction at the party’s National Executive Council (NEC) meeting, claiming that Obi and Otti had orchestrated the meeting to undermine his position.
In response, Obi, through Comrade Ibrahim Umar, the spokesperson for the Peter Obi Media Reach (POMR), expressed disappointment in Abure’s accusations.
Umar stated, “I am disappointed, but not surprised, by the false accusations of betrayal against our principal Mr. Peter Obi by Julius Abure.
“It is clear that this is a politically motivated attempt to mislead the public.”
Umar explained that the stakeholders meeting held in Umuahia was intended to address the party’s leadership issues and find a path forward.
“The decision was not in any way personal,” he said. “Therefore, the Obidient Movement stands in total solidarity with the actions and decisions of the stakeholders, which have always been guided by a commitment to unity, justice, and transparency.”
Umar accused Abure of misleading the public and defaming Obi’s character.
He criticized Abure for calling Obi a betrayer, stating, “Simply because he intervened for justice?
“His tenure ends in June, but he refused to leave the stage and also vowed that he is ready to fight. Who is he fighting?”
Umar added, “We understand his desperation for power, but it is high time for him to put the interest of the party over his personal interest.
“We will not engage in name-calling and character assassination. Instead, we call on Julius Abure to accept the outcome of the intervention by Mr. Peter Obi and Governor Alex Otti, which aimed to resolve any misunderstandings and chart a way forward.”
The Labour Party has faced internal conflicts and leadership disputes, which have been exacerbated by recent political developments.
