The Labour Party (LP) Reps caucus has rejected the appointment of a new caucus leader by former National
Chairman Julius Abure, describing the move as “laughable” and “misleading”.
The caucus reaffirmed Hon. Afam Victor Ogene as their leader, citing his democratic election by colleagues. Abure’s
decision to appoint Rep. Ben Etanebe as the new caucus leader was made public on Monday, following his condemnation of Ogene’s activities.
However, the caucus argues that leadership selection should be based on election by colleagues, not appointment.
On May 6, 2023, a 35-member LP caucus in the 10th Assembly of the House of Representatives elected Ogene as its
leader with 21 votes out of 31 participating members. The caucus described the election process as transparent and democratic.
The caucus maintains that only its members have the authority to elect or remove their leader, not Abure. They
expressed concerns that Abure’s actions may be a response to their support for the Supreme Court’s decision to sack him.
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The Reps caucus accused Abure of turning the party into a personal enterprise, citing scandals in multiple states,
including Ebonyi, Edo, Ondo, and Plateau. They also questioned his financial conduct, alleging that he left the party’s
account empty despite generating hundreds of millions from the 2023 elections.
The caucus called for a clean break from Abure’s “integrity-deficient leadership” and urged party members to rally
behind a future built on transparency, accountability, and collective trust.
The Labour Party’s National Executive Council and stakeholders’ meeting, convened by party leader Peter Obi and
Governor Alex Otti, is expected to be a defining moment for the party’s future.
Abure’s controversies have sparked concerns about his leadership style, with allegations of forgery, financial impropriety, and obsession with accessing caucus funds.
