Nenadi Usman, Chairperson of the Labour Party (LP) caretaker committee, has boldly responded to Julius Abure’s recent threats to reveal damaging information about prominent party figures such as Peter Obi and Alex Otti. Speaking on Channels Television’s Sunrise Daily program, Usman dismissed Abure’s comments as empty threats, daring him to go ahead and disclose any incriminating evidence he claims to possess.

Abure, the embattled and factional national chairman of the LP, had earlier alleged that Obi, Otti, and others were involved in financial misconduct related to the 2023 general elections, accusing them of hypocrisy and threatening to expose them in a way that would destroy their reputations. In his words, he claimed his revelations would make them “like rotten eggs nobody would want.”

In a strong rebuttal, Usman challenged Abure to act on his threats instead of making public insinuations. She revealed that the party has substantial evidence of Abure’s own wrongdoing, some of which has already prompted police investigations. According to Usman, this evidence has been submitted to the appropriate authorities, and developments would be made public in due course.

Usman criticized the internal crisis in the party as a blow to democratic values, particularly the role of a strong opposition in a thriving democracy. She warned that any attempt to align the party with the ruling government or to undermine internal democratic processes could damage the integrity of the opposition.

She also explained that Abure’s term as national chairman had legally ended and that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) had advised the party to fill the leadership vacuum. She cited a Supreme Court ruling which confirmed that lower courts lacked the jurisdiction to extend Abure’s tenure, effectively nullifying his claim to the chairmanship. Justice Inyang Okoro’s judgment, she noted, urged political leaders to vacate office once their terms end.

Despite the ruling, Abure’s name remains on INEC’s records due to a court order, not through democratic election. Usman clarified that the party’s National Executive Committee (NEC) appointed a caretaker committee in accordance with INEC’s directive to oversee congresses and elect new leaders. She stated that Abure is free to contest again if he wishes but accused him and his former National Working Committee of avoiding the electoral process and instead using the courts to retain control. Usman emphasized that such tactics harm the democratic health of the opposition party.