Confusion in Labour Party as State Chairmen Say N3bn Not Missing

Pass confidence vote on Abure

Chuks Okocha in Abuja

The confusion within the Labour Party (LP) has continued to exist as state chairmen of the party yesterday said N3.5 billion belonging to the party is not missing.

They also passed a confidence vote on the embattled national Chairman of LP, Julius Abure, and called on the National Working Committee (NWC) of the party to reconsider the six months suspension slammed on the National Treasurer of the party, Oluchi Oparah.

The state chairmen also called for a forensic audit on the account of the party.

Addressing journalists at the Labour Party national secretariat, the leader of the states caucus and Chairman of Abia State LP, CeeKay Igara, said: “First and foremost, no N3.5 billion of Labour Party is missing. What we generated during the sales of forms was N1.3 billion.

“We are here also to use the opportunity to respond to some of the spurious and unfounded allegations that are being made generally on the leadership of the party, especially the one that has to do with mismanagement of funds of the party and lack of transparency in the management of the affairs of the party.”

Igara said the leadership of the party under Abure  has displayed high level of transparency in the management of the party finances, explaining that the audit report as prepared by the external auditor is very clear about the finances of the party.

He said: “Let me emphatically state here that our money is not missing. We didn’t generate N3.5 billion as claimed by the suspended national treasurer. We can confirm that the party only realised N1.3 million during the 2023 general election and another N700 million donations which was used by the Presidential Campaign Council. All these monies were lodged in the banks and were promptly receipted. The audit is also clear about the money generated during the off season elections and how it was managed.”

However in another development, the state chairmen called for a forensic auditing of the accounts of the party.

They said: “We want the National Working Committee to revisit the suspension of the national treasurer. We appeal to the NWC through the National Legal Adviser to revisit the suspension of the national treasurer in the spirit of reconciliation.”

According to Igara, “Her allegation that the national chairman didn’t allow her perform her duties was also a huge lie. In all our financial dealings with the national headquarters, she has always being the officer that has attended to us. From the records, virtually all the cheques were signed by her and the national chairman. It is obvious she may have been influenced to lie against the national chairman.”

On the presidential candidate of the party in the last general election, Igara explained that:  “We also want to use this opportunity to debunk the allegation that the Labour Party are planning to suspend our National Leader, Peter Obi. Like we said earlier, our party is under worst siege ever, including unleashing fierce propaganda against the party.

“The party has not at any time contemplated a suspension of our leader. He remains our leader and will continue to lead the party in our avowed determination to pull this country out from the strangulation under this present government. We are also using this opportunity to beg our media friends to cease on going media trial against our party and its leaders. What you are witnessing now is orchestrated and will fizzle out very soon.”

On the earlier vote of no confidence on Abure by another group of state chairmen, Igara said: “We do not know them; they are not our members. Seated here today in our national headquarters are the authentic state chairmen of the Labour Party recognised by the INEC.

 “Those men are touts and picked on the streets and baptised with titles as state chairmen by the dissident former members of the party. It is no longer news as to who they are working for and what their assignments are.

“Today, we have expressed our satisfaction with the way our party is run, and we have passed a vote of confidence on Julius Abure and his executive.”