Factional chairman of the Labour Party (LP), Julius Abure, has dismissed claims that his faction demanded money from the governor of Abia State, Alex Otti, during reconciliation talks
Speaking on Monday at a press conference in Abuja, he stated that discussions with the governor centred only on power-sharing and party structure.
“At no time was the issue of money discussed. Nobody made any financial request, and nobody offered any money to anyone,” Abure said.
He disclosed that his faction had proposed a power-sharing arrangement to the governor, including allowing him to nominate governorship candidates and National Assembly and state assembly positions in Abia State, alongside concessions on key national offices.
According to him, the talks collapsed because Otti insisted on dissolving the existing party structure.
The LP chairman accused unnamed political forces of plotting to weaken the Labour Party after its performance in the 2023 elections, alleging that some beneficiaries of the party’s electoral success were now being used against it.
He maintained that the executive led by him emerged from the March 27, 2024, national convention in Nnewi and remained the legitimate leadership of the party.
He said that, despite the court verdict, the faction would proceed with its own primaries and candidate-nomination process for the 2027 polls.
Abure also took a swipe at the Nenadi Usman-led camp, accusing it of imposing high nomination fees on aspirants and violating party procedures in fixing dates for congresses and primaries.
He insisted that his faction would continue to serve as the party’s authentic leadership pending the outcome of the Supreme Court appeal.