Abayomi Arabambi, the National Publicity Secretary of the Labour Party, has accused Julius Abure, the party’s suspended National Chairman, of collaborating with the All Progressives Congress (APC).
Arabambi made this allegation in a brief statement on Friday, following the emergence of photos on the internet showing the APC Senate Presidential candidate, Godswill Akpabio, alongside Julius Abure, Farouk Umar, Clement Ojukwu, and Oluchi Opara—all former Labour Party officials.
The Federal Capital Territory High Court had previously prohibited these LP officers from presenting themselves as national officers of the party.
Arabambi claimed that Abure has instructed all Labour Party senators to support Godswill Akpabio.
He stated, “It is evident that Abure is now working for the APC. Abure has directed all Labour Party senators to back the APC’s nominee for Senate President.”
“And yet this man has the audacity to accuse the Acting National Chairman, Alhaji Bashiru Lamidi Apapa, of working for the APC,” he added.
Meanwhile, Kenneth Okonkwo, the spokesperson for the Obi/Datti Presidential Campaign Council, referred to the Apapa-led faction of the party as a wing of the ruling APC created to divert the party’s attention from pursuing its presidential mandate in court.
Okonkwo stated that there is no crisis or factions within the party and clarified that the process for electing national party officials is clearly outlined in its constitution, specifically Article 13 (1)(b)(iv).
Additionally, Obiora Ifoh accused expelled and suspended members of the party of being utilized by the ruling APC to sow discord within the party’s ranks.
Ifoh specifically pointed out Apapa and Arabambi as the main instigators of the destabilization plot.
Meanwhile, Ali Ndume, a former Senate leader and Director-General of the Akpabio Campaign Organisation, announced that their team, called the Stability Group, had obtained the signatures of 69 Senators-elect who support the aspirations of Senators Akpabio and Barau Jubrin.
He stated, “We urge you to support this stability group; we have 69 signatures. It is not about Akpabio or Jibrin. What the country needs now is stability, and that’s why we formed the Stability Group.”
Ndume called on the Labour Party and the New Nigeria People’s Party to endorse Akpabio and Jibrin.
Julius Abure, the suspended National Chairman of the Labour Party, commented that it is not typical for the “ruling political party to consider accommodating the opposition.”
“It indicates that our democracy is maturing. I want to make it clear that in most of our interactions with our senators, we have not issued any directives. We do not want to dictate where they should align themselves,” Abure stated.
“Two of my senators are present here. Ireti Kingibe is not here, but we will convey the message to her. We need a dynamic legislature to strengthen our democracy, and we hope that your legislature will be different from what we have had. Every government policy should positively impact our people,” Abure concluded.
