There seems to be a crack in the bond among Obidients, supporters of the Labour Party presidential candidate in 2023 amid the campaign funds embezzlement scandal rocking the party.
Recall that the LP chairman, Julius Abure was alleged to have embezzled the N3.5bn raised from the sale of nomination forms and fundraising activities in the build-up to the 2023 general elections.
The party’s National Treasurer of the party, Oluchi Opara who made the allegation claimed Peter Obi was aware of the fraud.
Peter Obi reacting to the development called for an audit of the accounts of the party, while Abure denied the allegation, challenging Opara to provide concrete evidence. The party leadership later slammed a six-month suspension on Opara for shunning an invitation to a probe meeting and dragging the party’s name in the mud.
In a new development, several allegations have shown that Abure was not the only one involved in the scandal rocking the Labour Party, many Obidients who claimed to be throwing their support for Obi to change the old order are also full-time opportunists.
These allegations were shared by a popular supporter of Peter Obi, FS Yusuf on his X verified page detailing how the Labour Party Chairman used the money allegedly donated for the party’s activities to enrich himself.
Yusuf in the allegation accompanied with private conversation screenshot said; “Following massive influx of cash once Peter Obi came onboard, he’s since acquired the following from the 3 billion naira he stole:
“1. 4-Bed Semi-Detached Duplex – House 49 Road 2, Federal Housing Authority, Guzape, Abuja. He bought this in July 2022 for NGN 180,000,000 from ENL Consortium
“You can go and verify this. I have also added the image for you. Drive there at anytime and see the place. He’s also living there with a woman that is not his wife. The woman has a daughter for him. His wife is not aware.
“2. 8-Units of Luxury Apartments @ Paridise Hill Estate, Guzape, Abuja – each acquired from ENL consortium in August 2023 at NGN 45,000,000 each. That’s NGN 360,000,000
“This is still under construction and so, that is why he was able to buy it cheaper for NGN 45,000,000. The price would increase once construction is done. I have also sent you the image of this place. You can drive down there and verify.
“This is his planned retirement plan. He wants to be a landlord. With Obidients sweat and blood.
“3. Parcel of Land measuring 1,524m² located at Road 2, Federal Housing Authority, Guzape, Abuja – He bought this in August 2023. I am still looking for the documents on his phone to ascertain the price he bought it.
“4. 5-Bed Detached Detached Duplex on Road 2, Federal Housing Authority, Guzape, Abuja. He acquired this one for NGN 380,000,000 in May 2023 I have also attached the picture here. You can go and verify all of this. His name is written as the owner of these properties.
“5. Mansion he constructed for NGN 523,000,000 at Number 1 Julius Abure Way, off Ogumwenyin, off Aruogba Road, Irhirhi Benin City, Edo.”
FS Yusuf further alleged that during the 2023 election, Peter Obi’s supporters usually charged N500,000 to host a candidate in a Twitter space, adding that only Obi was exempted. He challenged his fellow Obidients to deny receiving N200k each from Labour Party candidates in the Southeast.
He called out one Serah Ibrahim, a fellow Obidients influence who ‘left her 9-5 secretary job in Lagos to drink from Obidients sweat.’
Reacting to the allegation, Serah Ibrahim accused FS Yusuf of attempting to drag others down with him due to desperation.
She also alleged that Yusuf, who has been defending false narratives, is now targeting them. She denied claims of supporting a political candidate solely based on ethnicity and accused Yusuf of accepting money from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
She questioned Yusuf’s integrity, citing an incident where Yusuf demanded payment before supporting an LP candidate. She asserts that Yusuf and others were offered money by the PDP to sway support but emphasize their loyalty to their movement, Obidients, and refute accusations of being paid to support a political candidate.
Yusuf had started exposing his fellow Obidients after he was criticised for supporting the PDP governorship candidate in Edo, Asue Ighodalo against Olumide Akpata, the candidate of the Labour Party.
Yusuf and several prominent Obidients from Edo State believed it was inappropriate for the Labour Party to nominate a candidate from the Edo South Senatorial District, which is also the zone of the outgoing Governor, Godwin Obaseki. Notably, Olumide Akpata, the Labour Party’s gubernatorial candidate, hails from the same local government as Obaseki.
While some Obidients supported this view, others advocated for wholesale support for any Labour Party candidate, disregarding zoning and equitable power rotation.
The disagreement led to the ongoing war of words within the Obidients camp, with many claiming Yusuf was using Peter Obi’s name to chase clouts and named him a hypocrite as they shared previous tweets of Yusuf calling for full support of the Labour Party ‘from top to bottom’.
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