John Alechenu, Abuja

Aggrieved members of the Labour Party (LP), have demanded for the arrest and prosecution of the party’s National Chairman, Comrade Julious Abure, for alleged forgery, corruption and illegal substitution of candidates during the 2023 general elections.

Three of such persons addressed a joint press conference, in Abuja, on Wednesday.

The first to speak was the former Governorship Candidate for Ebonyi State, Comrade Eze Oko Splendour, who called on the Minister of Justice and Attorney General of the Federation to give priority to Abure’s prosecution.

He said, “I’m the Labour  Party’s Gubernatorial candidate for the 2023 general elections in Ebonyi State.

“ In late 2022, following the Labour Party’s (“LP/the party”) Gubernatorial Primaries for Ebonyi State, I emerged as the party’s candidate for the seat of Governor of Ebonyi State.

“Following my emergence as the Gubernatorial flag bearer for Labour Party, the Chairman initiated a scheme to subvert the electoral process and ensured the emergence of Edward Nkwegu Okereke, the owner of Bacelona hotel in Abuja, who had participated in the All Progressives Congress (“APC”) Gubernatorial primaries in same Ebonyi State, in the same election cycle and lost.”

He further alleged that, “Despite my legitimate candidacy and overwhelming support within the party, Abure resorted to forgery and deception to orchestrate my removal as the LP’s Gubernatorial candidate.”

According to him, the chairman conspired with other party officials to forge a letter of withdrawal to illegally substitute his candidacy at the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

As a consequence, Splendor said, “I immediately sought recourse through legal channels tc challenge the illegitimate substitution of my candidature.

“I sued the party and INEC to Federal High Court Abakaliki Ebonyi State. The Judgment came in my favour that I’m the authentic Gubernatorial candidate of LP in Ebonyi State.

“The judge consequently set aside the illegal substitution primary and directed INEC to publish my name in her portal.

“Abure and his cohorts were not satisfied with this judgment consequently, they appealed it in court of appeal Enugu in Enugu State.

“Their suit was dismissed. Still not satisfied with the judgment of court of Appeal, they went to supreme Court Abuja.

“Their suit was further dismissed. Subsequently, I petitioned the Deputy Inspector General of Police (“DIG”), force criminal investigation Division (‘FCID”) Abuja which triggered a comprehensive police investigation.

“Despite numerous attempts by Abure to evade accountability, the diligent efforts of law enforcement officials led to his eventual apprehension.

“The case file has since been forwarded to Federal Ministry of Justice for charges to be instituted but up until now, there has been no movement on the matter.

“Having received the case file and recommendations from the FCID, I am hereby appealing most passionately to the Honourable Attorney General of the Federation to ensure justice is served.

“The events described herein underscore the critical importance of upholding the rule of law and ensuring accountability within our democratic institutions.

“The prosecution of Abure is not only a matter of justice but also reaffirmation of our commitment to the principles of transparency, fairness and accountability in governance.”

Also speaking at the event, a Governorship candidate of the party in Plateau State, Chief Yohana Margif, also said he suffered the same fate because his was was illegally substituted with that of another person who claimed to have paid N30 million to seal the deal.

A House of Representatives candidate for Edo Orhionmwon/Uhunmwode Federal constituency, Mr Imasuen Paul Murphy, expressed similar grievances.

He said, “The primary conducted by Labour Party on 13th, 07, 2022 monitored by INEC, DSS, Police, NSCDC and so on .

“At that instance The LP in Edo State forwarded my credentials to the Labour Party National headquarters which in turn forwarded the documents along with that of other contestants who won their own primary elections To INEC headquarters in Abuja as required by the Electoral Act 2022.

“My name was listed as Item 5 as one of the names endorsed by INEC resident electoral commissioner for Edo State.

“My name was published in the first list by INEC as names of successful candidates. To my surprise when the final list of candidates was published on the 20th of September by INEC behold my name was substituted by name of of Elizabeth Onyire who contested and lost in the APC House of representative primary.”

Abure had in an earlier press conference claimed that candidates in question were placeholders who were legally substituted after a Supplimentary primary.