Why I visited Wike in his Abuja home — Abure

The embattled former national chairman of the Labour Party, Barrister Julius Abure, has addressed the controversy surrounding his recent meeting with the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Mr. Nyesom Wike.

He said that the visit was purely personal and not political.

Diaspora Digital Media reported that Abure came under fire last week after pictures of his meeting with Wike in Abuja surfaced online, sparking backlash from members of his party.

Though, critics accused him of compromising the LP’s values and aligning with the ruling party.

But while speaking at the party’s factional National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting in Abuja on Monday, Abure dismissed the claims, arguing that his visit to Wike was not related to party matters.

“Last week, I met with the FCT minister, and it attracted a lot of comments, a lot of misconceptions, and a lot of talk about the photographic events,” he said.

“Now that we have the privilege of convening this meeting, it’s an opportunity for me to make a few brief remarks.

“I want to say, firstly and very clearly, that I am in Nigeria. I live in the FCT, and Nyesom Wike is the FCT minister.

“I have the right, as a Nigerian, to interface and interact with anybody—with any public officer in the federal government of Nigeria.

“The meeting was privileged and, therefore, was purely a private meeting.”

Abure also used the moment to reassert his influence in the party, describing himself as a leader who has built the LP into a national force.

“I also want to say clearly and quickly that we have paid our dues in the Labour Party,” he said.

“We have controlled this party for many years, and by the grace of God, today, the party has become one of the biggest political parties in Nigeria, under my watch.”

Meanwhile, Abure’s visit to Wike came amid a leadership crisis in the LP, with two factions laying claim to the party’s national structure.

While Abure leads one group, former minister of finance Usman Nenadi heads the rival faction as its interim national chairman.

The disagreement has created uncertainty within the LP as it prepares for the 2027 elections, with both factions asserting legitimacy and control over party activities.

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