“Abure Will Destroy the Labour Party” - Kenneth Okonkwo

Kenneth Okonkwo, a former spokesperson for the Obi/Datti campaign group, has sharply criticized Julius Abure, the National Chairman of the Labour Party (LP), blaming him for the ongoing crisis within the party. Okonkwo accused Abure of undermining the Labour Party and violating its constitution, leading to a lack of elected officials at various levels of governance.

In an article published on Saturday in Daily Sun, Okonkwo claimed that Abure’s actions have significantly weakened the party’s structure. He pointed out that, despite a court order mandating the induction of party leaders at the constituency, local government, and state levels, Abure has refused to comply. This, according to Okonkwo, has left the Labour Party without proper representation across the country.

“The major stakeholders of the LP went to court and obtained a decision that compels Abure to hold an induction meeting at the 2018 National Convention to establish a Board of Trustees (BOT) and other necessary structures. However, Abure has refused to comply with that ruling,” Okonkwo wrote. “So far, he has not established a BOT. The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) even tried to mediate and broker an agreement between Abure and the LP stakeholders to organize a public meeting, but Abure refused.”

Okonkwo further alleged that Abure has essentially hijacked the Labour Party, which is supposed to represent the interests of the masses and workers, by unilaterally appointing officials without proper elections or consultations. He criticized Abure for disregarding court orders and accused him of running the party as a personal fiefdom.

“Abure is the most ironic figure here, as he has not only flouted the court’s decision but also accused other LP officials of violating the same court order. In law, to demand justice, justice must first be done,” Okonkwo asserted. “Abure has been rejected by INEC, by elected members of the Labour Party, and by key LP stakeholders. So, who does he intend to lead?”

Okonkwo also condemned the manner in which a recent General Assembly was organized, stating that the event was invalid because INEC was notified only six days in advance, rather than the required 21 days as stipulated by the Electoral Act. He claimed that Abure’s actions reveal his lack of intention to properly manage the party, suggesting that the event was poorly publicized and lacked transparency.

“The law allows only LP members and their elected representatives to vote. If the members of the Labour Party were not aware that the meeting was taking place, who would vote? If there are no constituencies, local governments, and state councils in the current Labour Party, where would the elected representatives vote?” Okonkwo questioned.

He concluded by accusing Abure of setting up a fraudulent system, where all party structures are controlled solely by him, further deepening the crisis within the Labour Party.