LP crisis: State chairmen back Obi’s call for forensic audit of accounts

The chairmen of the Labour Party (LP) in the 36 states and the FCT have backed the call by the presidential candidate of the party, Peter Obi, for the accounts of the party to be subjected to a forensic audit to unravel the allegation of financial impropriety against its national chairman.

The Chairman, Council of State Chairmen of LP, Ceekay Igara (Abia State), who spoke on behalf of others, however, said they reject the financial fraud allegation against the national chairman of the party, Julius Abure.

They said this on Tuesday after a meeting at the party’s national secretariat, where they also passed a vote of confidence on Abure and Obi.

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“His (Obi) decision to involve an independent auditor is a welcome one, and we believe that the outcome will finally exonerate Abure and also expose the lies being peddled by the suspended treasurer,” he said.

Igara also debunked reports that the party was contemplating the suspension of Obi.

“The party has not at any time contemplated a suspension of our leader. He remains our leader and will continue to lead the party in our avowed determination to pull this nation out of the strangulation under this present government. What you are witnessing now is orchestrated and will fizzle out very soon,” Igara said.

Daily Trust reports that Mrs Oparah had accused Abure of mismanaging the funds of the party and asked him to account for the alleged missing N3.5bn realized from the sale of nomination forms for the 2023 general elections.

While Abure denied the allegations, the party’s National Working Committee (NWC), however, slammed a six-month suspension on Oparah, for false allegation and failure to appear before a committee to address her allegations and grievances.

This was followed by Obi demanding an investigation of the party’s finances and records by a reputable audit firm.

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