The embattled National Chairman of the Labour Party, Julius Abure has said the party or its officials were not responsible for any financial transactions as it related to the presidential campaign of its candidate, Peter Obi in the 2023 election.
Abure said it would be mischievous for any person to accuse him and the party of mismanagement of donations to prosecute the presidential election.
The Suspended National Treasurer of the party, Oluchi Opara accused Abure of diverting N3.5 billion of funds received from the sale of nomination forms by the Labour Party and donations for the prosecution of the 2023 political campaigns.
But Abure said the campaign funds were disbursed, administered in the Southern States by the former Director-General of the Obi-Datti campaign, Dr. Doyin Okupe, and under the control of Akin Osuntokun who took over from Okupe when he resigned.
He also said the funds for the campaign in the 19 Northern States were handled by the Vice Presidential Candidate Datti Baba-Ahmed.
Abure added that the funding of the election was done by the former Anambra State governor himself.
The embattled LP chairman also listed Aisha Yesufu who was a member of the Obi – Datti campaign and Pastor Itua Ighodalo as the sole signatories to the presidential campaign accounts.
Abure added that the duo were responsible for the payment of polling unit agents during the election.
Abure who spoke after the party’s National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting in Abuja on Monday, said: “I must seize this opportunity to make some clarifications on a few issues. I and the party have been accused of being responsible for Peter Obi’s failure in the 2023 general election. They have stated that the campaign, Election donations, and funds for the payment of agents were mismanaged by the party, hence Peter Obi failed in the Election.
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“Let me make it categorically clear that campaign funds were disbursed, administered in the Southern States by the leadership of Doyin Okupe, and Secondly under the control of Akin Oshuntokun while the funding of the Campaign for the 19 Northern States was handled by the Vice Presidential Candidate of the Party Datti Baba-Ahmed. The funding of the election was done by Peter Obi himself.
“As per the donations, the party was not involved in the donations. Donations to the campaign were channeled to the Following Accounts:
OBI/BABA-AHMED CAMPAIGN ACCOUNT
Zenith Bank – 1241950451; Sterling Bank – 0091657896; Heritage Bank – 1400234900 and Globus Bank – 1000128194.
“The signatories to these accounts were Aisha Yesufu and Pastor Itua Ighodalo. They were equally responsible for the payment of Polling Unit Agents.
“Consequently, it is mischievous for any person to accuse me and the party for mismanagement of these funds. At no time did the party or its officials engage in any financial transactions as it relates to the presidential campaign.”
Abure said himself and the National Working Committee members of the party elected at the March 27 Convention in Nnewi, Anambra State would defend the mandate given to them.
“It will be safe for me at this point to conclude that I and my colleagues elected in the Convention of our Party held on the 27th day of March 2024 will defend the mandate given to us by Members of this Party. No amount of intimidation or harassment will make us surrender this leadership.
“Together, we will continue to build this party into a formidable force, one that truly represents the interests of all Nigerians. The beautiful ones are not yet to be born, but their birth is near, and it will be through the Labour Party that they will rise to lead this great nation,” he added.
Source: The Nation Newspaper Ltd
