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Published on 2024-02-19 10:23:24
The internal crisis rocking Nigeria’s second main opposition, the Labour Party (LP), is far from over. This time around, Oluchi Oparah, the LP’s suspended treasurer, has challenged Julius Abure, the party’s chairman, to give a breakdown of the donations received from Nigerians abroad during the 2023 presidential election. However, Abure, in an interview, maintained that Oparah is bent on “destroying his name” in the country.
Oluchi Oparah, the suspended national treasurer of the Labour Party (LP), is challenging the party’s national chairman, Julius Abure, over alleged fund mismanagement during the 2023 general election. Oparah has requested Abure to give an account of the donations received from Nigerians in the diaspora during the campaign tour of LP flagbearer in the 2023 election, Peter Obi, in the United States. This move comes following the controversy surrounding the handling of campaign funds by the LP.
The suspension of Opara from the leadership of the Labour Party and the subsequent fallout between Opara and Abure has brought to light allegations of mismanagement of funds amounting to N3.5 billion raised from the sale of nomination forms and fundraising activities in the build-up to the 2023 election. LP has refuted the claims of possessing N3.5 billion and asserted that Abure did not misappropriate funds belonging to the party.
In response to the allegations, Opara expressed her concerns, stating, “Again, for 10 to 11 months, Abure has been the only one withdrawing the money. I don’t know how he does it, whether by forgery or other means.” Reacting to Opara’s claim, Abure denied any wrongdoing, saying the embattled treasurer was merely out to tarnish his image, adding that she was under some influence. Thus, the controversy surrounding the allegations of fund mismanagement continue to escalate within the LP.
In a related incident, Peter Obi disclosed that its campaign team received donations totaling N596 million from party supporters, Obedient movements, and well-meaning Nigerians across the globe. This revelation came amidst the fallout within the Labour Party, prompting further scrutiny over the handling of campaign funds and fundraising activities. Aisha Yesufu, the chairman of the fundraising team for Obi, announced that Peter Obi spent N744,500,000 on litigations following his loss at the 2023 presidential election.
The LP has been at the center of controversy concerning its handling of funds and campaign financing. This has been exacerbated by the fallout between Opara and Abure. The dispute has left the party in disarray, with the allegations of mismanagement overshadowing the LP’s role in the political landscape.
The turmoil within the LP raises concerns about the management of funds by political parties and the need for transparency and accountability in campaign financing. With the allegations of fund mismanagement and the fallout between key party officials, there is a growing demand for a thorough investigation and accountability to restore public trust in the LP and its leadership.
The controversy surrounding the LP’s internal crisis and the allegations of fund mismanagement highlights the challenges faced by political parties in Nigeria. This incident underscores the need for greater transparency and accountability in campaign financing and the handling of funds by political parties. As the fallout continues to unfold, there is a pressing need for a thorough investigation into the allegations to ensure integrity, transparency, and accountability within the LP and the broader political landscape in Nigeria.
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