Politics
Aisha Yesufu hits back at Abure, asks him to account for LP campaign funds
Aisha Yesufu has responded to the claim by the National Chairman of the Labour Party, Julius Abure, that she and Pastor Itua Ighodalo were responsible for managing the campaign funds donated to Peter Obi’s presidential campaign for the 2023 election.
While addressing journalists on Monday, September 9, 2024, after the party’s National Executive Council, Abure dismissed the allegation that he embezzled the party’s campaign donations.
He said there was no way he could have embezzled the party’s campaign funds since he was not directly involved in the management of the funds.
Abure said, “The party and I have been accused of being responsible for Peter Obi’s failure in the 2023 general election. They 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.
“The election funding was done by Obi himself. As per the donations, the party was not involved. 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 of 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.”
Reacting to Abure’s claim, Yesufu, who was the chairman of the campaign fundraising team, described the Labour Party National Chairman as a liar.
The activist asked Abure to disclose how he spent the proceeds of the ‘Labour Party ₦1,000 Challenge’ campaign donations which according to her started in 2022.
Yesufu said Abure also opened an account to receive campaign donations on behalf of the Labour Party, saying she did not have access to the account.
The activist, therefore, asked Abure to account for the funds donated to the party and the money the party used to procure forms for its candidates.
She said, “That statement Abure made was a big fat lie. He thinks it was like those days when they used to do their Labour unionism when nobody had internet or keep records; those days they got away with everything. When it comes to certain things, I am a very detailed and process-driven person.
“There were times when the fundraising team was frustrated with me because of my insistence on due process. Before Mr Obi came out with his campaign account, the Labour Party had theirs. I have with me here a ‘Labour Party ₦1,000 Challenge’ post that was tweeted on 24/11/22. It said ‘Take ownership of the LP campaign by donating a minimum of ₦1,000 to Labour Party Zenith Account 1225832294.
“When that account was opened by Abure, I was very angry. I remember some people harmlessly saying it was no big deal since it was for the same Labour Party campaign. But I insisted that it is not the same thing because we don’t have access to any money that went into the LP account and therefore can’t use it to facilitate the electioneering campaign.
“So for Julius Abure to come out in 2024 to blatantly lie that they were not involved in any campaign, saying it was only Aisha Yesufu and Pastor Itua (is unbelievable). By the way, there are three signatories, not two as he said. Up till now, the LP has not accounted for the money the public donated to them neither have they accounted for the money used to procure forms.”
The embezzlement allegations between Aisha and Abure came six months after the former announced that the fundraising team received donations totalling ₦596m from the party and Obi supporters.
The Labour Party (LP) has cautioned the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) against interfering in its affairs, insisting that the union has no authority to dictate the party’s direction or leadership.
The opposition party also dismissed the possibility of a merger with any political platform ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The LP’s National Publicity Secretary, Obiora Ifoh, made this known in a statement issued in Abuja on Monday.
“While the party is not considering a merger, it remains open to collaborations aimed at strengthening its position ahead of future elections,” Ifoh stated.
The statement was in response to the NLC’s call for a rebranding of the Labour Party, which included the possibility of a merger or coalition with like-minded parties.
Following its National Executive Council (NEC) meeting in Yola, Adamawa State, the NLC, in a communique signed by its President, Joe Ajaero, insisted that urgent steps must be taken to reclaim the party and restore its ideological foundation.
The NLC directed its National Administrative Council to initiate processes for a restructuring, coalition, or merger that would strengthen the interests of workers within the LP.
The Labour Party and the NLC remain at odds over the union’s refusal to recognize Julius Abure as the party’s National Chairman, despite his re-election at the LP convention in Anambra
The lingering dispute underscores ongoing power struggles within the party as it seeks to position itself ahead of the next election cycle.
A fresh crisis has engulfed the New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP) with the suspension of its governorship candidate in the November 16 off-cycle governorship election in Ondo state, Olugbenga Edema.
Mr Edema was suspended on Monday along with his running mate, Rotimi Adeyemi, and another party chieftain, Israel Ayeni, over alleged anti-party activities.
The three men were suspended from the party at a meeting of the State Working Committee (SWC) held in Akure, the state capital.
Announcing their suspension during a press conference, the state chairman of the NNPP, Peter Olagookun, said Mr Edema and the other party chieftains were sanctioned for alleged anti-party activities.
Flanked by 12 other members of the SWC, Mr Olagookun said the men were also suspended for violating the party’s constitution.
“We, the State Working Committee of the New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP) Ondo State Chapter, hereby announce the indefinite suspension of the following party members: Hon. Olugbenga Edema, the governorship candidate in the just concluded Ondo State governorship election; Barrister Rotimi Adeyemi, the deputy governorship candidate; and Mr. Isreal Oluwatosin Ayeni,” he said.
The chairman added that the trio were suspended on two other grounds: “suing in the name of the party without recourse to the appropriate stakeholders at both the state and national levels, according to our party constitution.
“Suing the party without exhausting internal resolution mechanisms as provided by the party’s constitution, and involving in anti-party activities.”
Peoples Gazette could not immediately get Mr Edema’s reaction as of the time of this report.
However, one of his aides, who spoke on condition of anonymity as he was not authorised to speak, said his principal would respond appropriately to the suspension.
“We have read the suspension letter, but Oga (Edema) will react to it when he’s ready. I’m sure those who claimed they suspended him are just jesters. He gave NNPP a name in the state. How many people knew the party in the state before the election?” he told the Gazette.
Mr Edema lost the governorship election to Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
Dr. Olajide Adediran, popularly known as JANDOR, has dumped the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
The 2023 Lagos governorship candidate made the announcement on Monday during a press conference in Ikeja, Lagos.
While he did not disclose his next political move, JANDOR assured that he would make his intentions known in the coming months.
His departure from the PDP comes with the backing of his supporters across the 20 local governments and 37 Local Council Development Areas (LCDAs) of Lagos State.
Details to follow…
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