N3.5bn campaign funds: Labour Party suspends National Treasurer Opara after rift with Abure

Nigeria’s opposition party, the Labour Party, has issued a six-month suspension to its National Treasurer, Oluchi Opara, barely 48 hours after a rift with Julius Abure, the party’s National Chairman, over alleged N3.5 billion campaign funds.

The party’s National Working Committee announced the suspension at a press conference on Wednesday at the party’s secretariat in Abuja.

The development comes amid Opara’s series of allegations against Julius Abure.

DAILY POST recalls that Opara had singled out Abure to give an account of an alleged N3.5 billion raised from the party’s nomination forms and fundraising activities in the buildup to the February 2023 general election.

However, reacting to her allegations on Wednesday, the party’s National Publicity Secretary, Obiora Ifoh, described Oparah as a mole being used to create a crisis in the party.

He said, “We see this as an insult to the party leadership and millions of our members who are watching how their party’s image, which they have laboured hard to build, is trolled by one ingrate.

“The disciplinary committee has, however, recommended to the National Executive Council of the party, through the NWC, that Ms. Oluchi Opara be suspended from the Labour Party for at least six months. This suspension is with immediate effect.”