Factional National Chairman of the Labour Party, Julius Abure, has advised Senator Seriake Dickson, leader of the Nigeria Democratic Congress, NDC, to exercise caution in his political alliance with Peter Obi and his supporters, warning that the party could face internal challenges similar to those experienced by the Labour Party after the 2023 general elections.
Abure made the remarks in a statement issued on Monday following the emergence of Peter Obi as the NDC’s presidential candidate after his ratification at the party’s national convention held in Abuja on May 30.
Drawing parallels between the Labour Party’s post-election struggles and developments within the NDC, Abure argued that political leaders should learn from past experiences to avoid repeating similar mistakes.
According to Abure, the internal crisis that engulfed the Labour Party after the 2023 elections should serve as a warning to other political parties welcoming influential politicians and their supporters.
He said Senator Dickson appeared to have taken lessons from the Labour Party’s experience by reportedly resisting pressure to hand over key elective positions within the NDC entirely to Obi’s supporters.
Abure maintained that political parties must preserve their internal structures and leadership systems regardless of the popularity of any individual joining the party.
He argued that party founders and long-standing members should not surrender strategic positions without considering the long-term implications for party stability.
Claims of Betrayal by Former LP Members
The Labour Party chieftain alleged that many individuals who benefited from the party’s support during the 2023 elections later turned against its leadership after assuming public office.
He specifically mentioned Peter Obi and Abia State Governor Alex Otti, claiming that they were among those who eventually opposed the party leadership despite receiving significant support from the Labour Party during the election period.
According to Abure, the party accommodated many of Obi’s supporters by granting them opportunities to contest elections on its platform.
He claimed that several tickets were allocated to Obi-aligned candidates without financial demands because the party believed it was investing in individuals who shared its vision and ideology.
Abure further alleged that many of Obi’s supporters joined political platforms with the intention of dominating party structures and influencing leadership decisions.
He warned that allowing any group to occupy every strategic position within a party could create future conflicts and weaken the authority of existing leaders.
According to him, Senator Dickson should ensure that trusted loyalists occupy important positions within the NDC to safeguard the party’s interests and maintain balance in its leadership structure.
He argued that having dependable allies within a party becomes crucial when disagreements arise or when leaders require support during periods of internal conflict.
Abure also revisited the leadership crisis that affected the Labour Party following the 2023 elections.
He claimed that the dispute worsened after the Independent National Electoral Commission acted on a court ruling concerning the tenure of the party’s executives, leading to the emergence of an interim leadership committee headed by Nenadi Usman.
According to him, some party stakeholders failed to support the existing leadership during that period, thereby contributing to the crisis that followed.
He suggested that greater unity among elected officials and party members could have prevented some of the disagreements that later emerged.