The embattled national chairman of the Labour Party, Julius Abure, has claimed that Aisha Yesufu and Pastor Itua Ighodalo, staunch supporters of the Labour Party presidential candidate Peter Obi, were responsible for managing the candidate’s campaign funds in the 2023 general election.
Abure made this known during a press briefing after the party’s National Executive Committee meeting in Abuja on Monday in response to rumours that he mismanaged the party’s funds.
According to him, the party never had access to the accounts opened for donations to support Obi’s candidacy, as Aisha Yesufu and Ighodalo were the signatories to the accounts.
“The party was never involved in the distribution of those resources. Our interest was to see how we could produce a president for the party. How it was done was not our concern. Hence, we gave them free rein. We allowed them to entrust their resources to whomever they wanted. We followed them loyally by allowing them to administer the campaign funds.
“Regarding donations, the party was not involved in collecting any campaign donations; they were channelled to accounts opened for campaign purposes, with Aisha Yesufu and Pastor Itua Ighodalo as the signatories.
“They were also responsible for payments to polling unit agents. The party did not handle the payments to the agents. We handed over the list to the campaign council and those administering the funds to pay the agents who worked for the presidential election. Consequently, it is mischievous for anyone to accuse me of mismanagement of the party’s funds.”
Abure also stressed that the party’s presidential ticket for the 2027 election is no longer reserved for Obi, adding that it is now open to all members.
He said, “The NEC in session also reviewed the National Convention’s decision to reserve its presidential and governorship tickets for Peter Gregory Obi and Alex Otti, respectively.
“Consequently, all party tickets from the presidency to the House of Assemblies are open to all qualified Nigerians.”
Abure also ruled out an automatic second-term ticket for the Governor of Abia State, Alex Otti, on the party’s platform, stating that the seat will be open to other aspirants.
The chairman added that the Abia governor does not have the power to convene a stakeholders’ meeting that produced a caretaker committee led by former Senator Nenadi Usman.
He added, “The NEC in session noted that the Governor of Abia State, His Excellency Alex Otti, who convened the meeting, did not have the power within the party’s constitution. According to Article 14 (4) (B), the power to call meetings is vested only in the National Secretary with the approval of the National Chairman.”
It is recalled that Yesufu, during the election, had on X requested the polling agents of LP to submit their details for reimbursement.
“Dear Labour Party polling unit agents. This is to inform you that your stipend will be paid directly into your bank accounts. Please provide your account details if you have not already done so. It is a new dawn and things will be done differently. Thank you,” she wrote.
