LP’s Abure faces probe as Otti, Kingibe, others suspended

The crisis in the Labour Party deepened on Wednesday as the Peter Obi-led faction constituted a special investigative panel headed by Ireti Kingibe to investigate Julius Abure, the factional national chairman of the party.

Abure was suspended on alleged anti-party activities and misappropriation of party funds.

Nenadi Usman, chairman of the faction’s caretaker committee, while addressing a world press conference in Abuja on Wednesday, said the committee will be headed by Ireti Kingibe, senator representing the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), with Peter Ameh as secretary. The committee has three weeks within which to submit its reports.

The terms of reference include, amongst others, examination of all allegations levelled against Abure, including alleged anti-party activities and misappropriation of party funds.

The panel is also expected to recommend appropriate sanctions to be given to the factional chairman.

Usman accused Abure and his group of promoting “divisive actions and familiar manipulative antics that threaten the integrity, public image and unity of our party.”

“It is in this spirit of responsibility to safeguard our cherished democratic ideals of the Labour Party and consequent upon Mr. Abure’s unabated misrepresentation and impersonation of the office of the National Chairman of the Labour Party that the NEC in session reached the hard but necessary decision,” Usman said.

She stated that the National Executive Committee (NEC) of the party had after a careful and comprehensive review of the Supreme Court judgment delivered on Friday, April 4, 2025, become deeply concerned by the subsequent actions of Julius Abure, “particularly his continued impersonation of the esteemed office of the National Chairman of the Labour Party.”

Usman noted that the party has started actions against Abure with the constitution of the special investigative committee to review actions of Abure as it affects the image and integrity of the party.

“In line with due process and the party constitution, NEC gives Mr. Abure 48 hours notice to show why disciplinary actions would not be taken against him for his numerous acts of misconduct against the party. The formal notice of disciplinary actions will be sent to the last known address of Barr. Julius Abure.”

Otti, Usman, Kingibe, others suspended

Similarly, the Abure-led faction announced the indefinite suspension of Governor Alex Otti of Abia State and five other top members of the party for alleged anti-party activities.

In a press statement signed by Umar Farouk Ibrahim, national secretary, on Wednesday, the faction said the suspension, which takes immediate effect, follows the recommendation of a five-member disciplinary committee set up by the NEC on May 2, 2025.

Others affected by the sanction include: Ireti Kingibe, Darlington Nwokocha, Afam Ogene, Amobi Ogah, and Seyi Sowunmi.

The party said all relevant institutions, including the Nigeria Governors Forum, the National Assembly, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), and security agencies, have been notified.

The LP faction also aimed its criticisms at Nenadi Usman, factional caretaker committee chairman, dismissing her as not being a registered member of the party and questioning her moral standing following her alleged corruption cases.

“We have said repeatedly that the said Nenadi Usman was and is not a member of the Labour Party being not a card-carrying member of the party,” the statement said. “She is a member of the Obedient Support Group… we will therefore not honour her with any sanction being not a member of the party.”

The statement further accused Usman of hypocrisy, challenging her to “explain to Nigerians the story behind her Plea Bargain with EFCC and all the properties she allegedly forfeited.”

The party has been mired in a leadership crisis as the Obi-led faction interpreted a recent Supreme Court judgment as removing Abure from office. Abure, on his part, said the judgment confirmed him as the authentic party chairman of the opposition party.