In a press conference held in Abuja on Monday, Mrs. Oluchi Oparah, the National Treasurer of the Labour Party, has raised serious concerns regarding the handling of party funds by the National Chairman, Julius Abure. Oparah stated that an amount exceeding N3.5 billion, generated from the sale of forms and various fundraisers for the upcoming 2023 general elections, needs to be accounted for.
At the press conference, Oparah expressed her frustration at being obstructed from fulfilling her constitutional role of overseeing the party’s finances. She alleged that the National Chairman has consistently prevented her access to the party’s financial records for scrutiny since the closure of the form sales before the elections.
Addressing the media, Oparah emphasized the principles of transparency, accountability, and justice, stating, “I stand before you today with a heavy heart and a sense of duty to bring to light the financial mismanagement and corruption within our party.” She further accused Julius Abure of abusing his office and misappropriating party funds while disregarding the constitutionally defined duties of the National Treasurer.
Oparah’s public outcry highlights the internal strife within the Labour Party and raises questions about the transparency and integrity of the party’s financial management under the current leadership. As the demand for accountability grows, the confrontation between the National Treasurer and the National Chairman sets the stage for a potential power struggle within the party hierarchy.