A fresh crisis is brewing in the Labour Party, LP, as the party’s National Treasurer, Mrs Oluchi Oparah, on Monday demanded that the National Chairman, Julius Abure render an account of party funds over N3.5bn being proceeds of sale of forms and sundry fundraisers for the 2023 general elections.

Oparah made the demand on Monday at a press conference in Abuja.

The treasurer alleged that Abure prevented her from exercising her constitutionally assigned role of handling the party’s accounts.

Oparah equally claimed that the chairman has shunned all entreaties to open the party’s books for scrutiny after the sale of expression of interest and nomination forms closed before the 2023 general elections.

Oparah said: “ I stand before you today with a heavy heart and a sense of duty to the principles of transparency, accountability, and justice. With great reluctance and deep concern, I am compelled to publicly address the media regarding the egregious financial mismanagement and corruption that have plagued our beloved party under the leadership of Mr Julius Abure, the current National Chairman.

“As National Treasurer, I am constrained to come before you and the public today because the internal mechanisms of our party have failed woefully to bring Mr Abure to account for his brazen abuse of office and misappropriation of party funds.

“ His appetite for power has grown unchecked, and he has deliberately undermined my duties and authority as stipulated in the party’s constitution.

“Since assuming office in 2021, Mr Abure has engaged in a series of actions that not only undermine the principles upon which the Labour Party was founded but also constitute grave violations of trust and fiduciary responsibility, all at the expense of the party and its members.

“Under Mr. Abure’s watch, over N3.5billion was raised from the sale of nomination forms for the 2023 general elections. However, apart from the proceeds of the sale of forms from his home state of Edo, which was diverted to Mr Abure’s private accounts, he only declared N55 million to me as the Treasurer, of the over N3.5 billion raised, pocketing the rest for himself.

Meanwhile, the Labour Party National Publicity Secretary, Obiora Ifoh who reacted to the allegations, in a statement made available to BEN TV Said the National Treasurer  is certainly under some external influences merely read out a concocted statement drafted by our detractors to further tar the image of the party.