Labour Reps Caucus: Leadership Not by Appointment, Lawmakers Tell Abure
Members of the Labour Party (LP) in the House of Representatives have dismissed the reported dismissal of their Caucus Leader, Hon. Afam Ogene, by the embattled National Chairman, Mr. Julius Abure.
Ogene, who represents Ogbaru Federal Constituency in Anambra State, had earlier responded to Friday’s Supreme Court verdict which ousted Abure from office, expressing the caucus’s willingness to cooperate with the party’s interim leadership headed by Senator Nenadi Usman.
However, Abure on Monday announced Ogene’s removal—a move that appears to signal another internal dispute within the party.
In a statement released Tuesday on behalf of the caucus, Ogene, elected on the Labour Party platform, reminded Abure that caucus leadership is determined through collective decision, not a nomination.
The statement read in part:
“Labour Party lawmakers reiterated that the position of Caucus Leader is not assigned by designation; rather, it is conferred through peer selection, based on a shared belief in an individual’s capacity to lead and advocate on behalf of the group in the party’s and the public’s best interests. This clarification comes in light of multiple inquiries from journalists and loyal party members following the Supreme Court’s judgment displacing Mr. Abure.”
“On May 6, 2023, the 35-member Labour Party caucus in the 10th House of Representatives selected Hon. Afam Ogene as its leader. A ranking lawmaker since the 7th Assembly, Ogene secured 21 votes in a highly competitive internal poll. Although 34 members-elect were in attendance, only 31 cast their votes, with Honourables Okey-Joe Onuakalusi, Obi Aguocha, and Prof. Lilian Oby Orogbu abstaining, as they oversaw the election process.”
Key Developments:
- Parallel NEC sessions deepen Obi-Abure rift
- LP declares support for Abure, slams Otti’s ‘anti-party’ conduct
- Abure insists LP leadership intact, warns Obi, Otti
The statement continued:
“Therefore, only the members who overwhelmingly chose Ogene have the authority to remove him—not an autocratic, power-hungry figure who is still struggling to free himself from serious allegations of misconduct,” the caucus said in the statement signed by Ogene.
He added, “If this latest poorly thought-out strategy by Abure is due to the caucus’s support for the Supreme Court ruling—which clearly stated that his tenure has ended—then he’s miscalculating. That sentiment reflects the majority view of LP lawmakers, which will be reaffirmed at Wednesday’s NEC/Stakeholders’ meeting led by National Leader Mr. Peter Obi and Governor Alex Otti.”
“We must boldly inform Abure that the Labour Party is a legitimate political institution—not a fraudulent scheme. From Ebonyi to Plateau, Ondo to Edo—where his disgraceful encounters with law enforcement tainted the party’s image—his actions reek of financial impropriety and betrayal of public trust.”
“Even in Anambra last week, Abure’s name invoked widespread accusations of financial misconduct. Let him publicly explain the root of his conflicts with Eze Oko Splendour (Ebonyi), Kenneth Imasuagbon (Edo), and the gubernatorial aspirants from the recent Anambra LP primaries.”
“It’s disgraceful that a man who hasn’t rendered a proper account of party funds from the 2023 general elections—or left a single naira in the LP coffers—despite raking in hundreds of millions through form sales and pre-election incentives, is now attempting to tap into House of Reps caucus funds. This only exposes how far Abure is willing to go.”
“No credible organ of the party would entrust funds—no matter how little—to a former chairman sacked by the apex court, especially one still facing allegations of document forgery raised by ex-National Treasurer, Oluchi Oparah. The caucus’s finances remain untouched and will be utilized strictly under the guidance of its members—not by Abure’s discretion.”
“The Labour Party deserves a fresh start—one rooted in integrity and capable of inspiring pride among its supporters.”
Reference
Labour Reps Caucus: Leadership Not by Appointment, Lawmakers Tell Abure