The Labour Party (LP) leadership, under National Chairman Julius Abure, has outlined conditions for recognizing supporters of the party’s 2023 presidential candidate, Peter Obi, popularly known as ‘Obidients.’
According to Abure, Obidients must register at their respective wards to become official party members, which would enable them to participate in party activities leading up to the 2027 elections.
“We are willing and ready to absorb all the Obidients into the Labour Party. All you need to do is to go to your ward as Obidient and register,” Abure stated during a town hall meeting organized by the Lagos State chapter of the party.
He emphasized that the Labour Party operates under a single structure and warned against attempts to establish rival factions.
“The party has only one structure, all other ones are counterfeit. A party cannot have two conflicting structures, a party can only have one structure and I advise, if you do not want to be left out of the scheme of things, find your way into the main structure.
“Those who are doing parallel structure, candidate structure will lose out at the end of the day,” he added.
In a statement released in Abuja on Friday night by the party’s National Publicity Secretary, Obiora Ifoh, Abure also urged elected Labour Party members to contribute financially to the party.
He lamented that lawmakers at various levels had failed to fulfill their financial obligations since assuming office nearly two years ago.
“It is a fact that they don’t respect the party, it is a fact that they don’t make contributions to the party.
“As I speak with you today, we have not received one kobo at the national, from those we elected to the National Assembly.
“The responsibility of running this party is still with the leadership of the party. As at today, we have six senators, about 30 Reps members and numerous House of Assembly members, but it will shock you to know that none of these lawmakers have contributed a dime to the party since their election in 2023.”
“Let them go and ask other parties, it is those elected under their platform that fund the party. Today, most of them want to have control over their local government and for us to hand over their constituencies to them, yet they are not ready to work or partner with the party. Is it fair?” Abure queried.
The LP chairman also addressed internal disputes within the Lagos State chapter, appealing to aggrieved members to move forward.
“I want to appeal to our members in Lagos State who may have one grievance or the other arising from the imperfection witnessed in the 2023 general election to keep their grievances aside.
“We cannot continue to dwell in the past. Those who did not get the party ticket in the 2023 election may have the opportunity to do so in 2027. And for some of you who have special cases, I plead with you to come and present the matter to the leadership of the party, instead of fighting ourselves in the social media.
“As long as I am the National Chairman, those with genuine cases will be given special attention in the 2027 general election,” Abure assured.
