The Labour Party’s National Working Committee has imposed a six-month suspension on Oluchi Opara, its National Treasurer.
The decision was made public during a press briefing held at the party’s headquarters in Abuja on Wednesday.
Opara had previously confronted LP National Chairman, Julius Abure, during a press conference on Monday, demanding accountability for an alleged N3.5 billion generated from the sale of nomination forms and fundraising activities ahead of the 2023 general election.
She reiterated her claims against the Abure-led NWC’s collaboration with the opposition-controlled Edo State Government during an appearance on Arise TV’s ‘Good Morning Show’ on Tuesday.
In response to her accusations, LP’s National Publicity Secretary, Obiora Ifoh, labeled Opara as a mole exploited by dissidents within the party.
Ifoh informed reporters that the decision to suspend her came after she declined an invitation from the party’s NWC to address the conflict.
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He said, “After the 2023 general election, Labour Party was marked for total annihilation by the system for daring to upstage the status quo of the political class. Little did we know that the fumigation was far from complete until late last year, when signs emanated that our National Treasurer, Ms. Oluchi Opara, a key member of the executive, turned out to be a mole in the house and has continued networking with the expelled members of the party leadership.
“Convinced that the treasurer is on a mission to stifle life out of our very cherished party, an emergency NWC was summoned on February 13. After the meeting, the NWC set up a disciplinary committee to try Opara for bringing the party to disrepute.
“To exercise its powers as contained in the party’s Constitution with the intention of a fair hearing, the NWC extended an invitation to her to appear before it today, February 14, by 10 a.m. to discuss the development. The party regrets that the treasurer shunned the invitation by the disciplinary committee to clear herself.
“We see this as an affront 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 Labour Party for a minimum of six months. This suspension is with immediate effect.”
The statement added that “we sincerely regret this development. We, however, urge our teeming members to understand that this is a price to pay for success. We will continue to reform the party until we achieve the best, good enough to drive our New Nigeria agenda.”
Attempts to contact Opara regarding her suspension were unsuccessful, as her phone line remained unreachable at the time of this report’s filing. #Labour Party