National Chairman of the Labour Party (LP), Mr Julius Abure, on Wednesday, downplayed the festering tussle for the control of the party, saying that the differences among the contending forces would soon be resolved.
Abure, who said he was open to reconciliation, appealed to all aggrieved members to forget the events of the recent past and return to work together as one united party.
LP’s National Publicity Secretary, Mr Obiora Ifoh, quoted Abure in a statement in Abuja as speaking with journalists soon after joining other national political party chairmen for a meeting with the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Mahmood Yakubu.
The Court of Appeal had last week affirmed an earlier judgement of an Abuja Federal High Court, which recognised Abure as the chairman of the LP.
Abure said, “Let me first appreciate the Appeal Court for doing justice, for looking at the whole matter, and resolving it in our favour, which ordinarily is in line with the law of the land, the constitution of Nigeria, the electoral law, and the party constitution.
“So, we want to appreciate the Court of Appeal judges. We also want to appreciate the High Court judges who had earlier delivered judgement in favour of the leadership of the party.
“I want to say essentially, that the squabbles within the party ought to be a family affair, and that is how I see it. For me, there are no hard feelings. As I said before, all those who may have one grievance or the other against the leadership of the party, it is an opportunity for all of us to come together, reconcile our differences, and chart a way forward for our party.
“For me, I am open to reconciliation, and the party will apply every measure to bring everybody within the party for us to discuss and chart a way forward for the party.
“I believe the interest of Nigeria and the interest of the party supersede every other interest. So it is my appeal for every aggrieved member of the party to come back for the interest of the party and for the interest of Nigeria.”
When asked a specific question on his relationship with the presidential candidate of the party during the 2023 polls, Mr Peter Obi, and Abia State Governor, Mr Alex Otti, he replied, “I am sure that very soon, all our differences will be put aside, and we will again speak authoritatively with one voice and come out stronger and very effective in the political space.
“There is no political party without some differences, it is a game of interests and there will always be conflicting interests in every political environment. I believe we will come out better and stronger.
“Now we have seen our strengths; we have also seen our weaknesses, and I am sure that all of these, put together, will reshape the party and make the party better, and we will perform better in future elections.”
Abure declined to admit that Obi and Otti had been working against the leadership of the LP, insisting that rumours of their alleged involvement in fuelling the party’s crises were exaggerated.
The statement claimed that the INEC chairman was “elated” to receive Abure.
Yakubu reportedly greeted the LP chairman with a handshake, saying, “Good to see you.”
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