ABUJA, Nigeria — As Labour Party transitions under the leadership of a newly appointed caretaker committee led by Senator Nenadi Usman, a prominent group within the party, Oga Ndi Oga Foundation, has called for the embattled former National Chairman, Julius Abure, to step down and allow the party to move forward.
In a statement to journalists, High Chief Godwin Agbasimelo, the Founder and CEO of Oga Ndi Oga Foundation and a member of the Labour Party’s Board of Trustees (BoT), urged Abure to avoid further conflicts with the new leadership.
Agbasimelo emphasised that Abure should take this opportunity to express gratitude for his role during a critical period in the party’s history rather than cling to power.
“Abure should be grateful to God for granting him the golden opportunity to serve as the National Chairman of the party when God zoomed it into the national limelight,” Agbasimelo stated.
“What more is he looking for after raking in billions of Naira as National Chairman during what could be described as Labour Party’s booming era?”
The crisis within Labour Party escalated following a stakeholders meeting convened by former presidential candidate Peter Obi and Abia State Governor Alex Otti, where the Usman-led caretaker committee was established to replace Abure.
The transition has been contentious, with Abure refusing to step down and opposing the legitimacy of the new committee.
Agbasimelo criticized Abure’s leadership, accusing him of neglecting key stakeholders and lacking the competence to lead the party into the future.
He cited Abure’s poor management of internal issues, particularly in Anambra State, and his alleged abandonment of key figures who helped propel the party into prominence.
Agbasimelo, a key figure in the rise of Labour Party in Anambra, highlighted the contributions he and other stakeholders made to the party’s success, including during the 2021 governorship elections.
He expressed disappointment in Abure’s failure to support the family of the party’s 2021 governorship candidate, who was kidnapped and remains missing.
“He [Abure] never considered it right enough to send even a bag of rice to the family of the kidnapped governorship candidate, knowing that the family have apparently lost their breadwinner,” Agbasimelo said.
The founder of the Oga Ndi Oga Foundation called on party members to unite under Senator Usman’s leadership and work towards strengthening the party ahead of the 2027 elections.
“Abure has overstayed his welcome,” Agbasimelo concluded. “He needs to thank God and step aside for Labour Party to move forward.”
