Profile of Julius Abure, political career, net worth, controversies

Julius Abure is a Nigerian lawyer and politician who until recently served as the National Chairman of the Labour Party (LP).

His leadership came to an abrupt halt in 2015 when he was officially dismissed from his position as National Chairman following a Supreme Court ruling that set aside the judgment of the Court of Appeal, which had previously recognized him as the legitimate leader of the party.

The Supreme Court’s decision, based on jurisdictional grounds, affirmed that the Court of Appeal lacked the authority to resolve internal party leadership matters.

This ruling marked the end of Abure’s tenure as LP Chairman, although his time in office had been fraught with legal, political, and financial controversies.

Background

Born on June 24, 1971, Abure’s professional career is rooted in law and public service. Before rising to the position of National Chairman, he served as the National Secretary of the Labour Party.

His role as the National Secretary positioned him as a key figure within the party, and his political career expanded when he was elected as National Chairman following the death of his predecessor, Abdukadir Abdulsalam, in 2021.

Additionally, Abure has had significant experience in public service, having worked at the Edo State Reform Commission, which helped build his political profile.

Political career

Abure’s elevation to the chairmanship of the Labour Party in 2021 came at a critical time for the party.

Following the death of his predecessor, Abdukadir Abdulsalam, Abure was elected by the Labour Party National Executive Council (NEC) to lead the party.

His appointment was considered a moment of stability for the party, which was navigating a period of loss.

However, his chairmanship was quickly contested, leading to ongoing challenges that would define his time at the helm of the party.

Controversies

Abure’s leadership was heavily contested, particularly by Lamidi Apapa, the suspended Deputy National Chairman of the Labour Party, who claimed to have removed Abure through a court order.

This led to significant internal strife and public disputes, ultimately culminating in a series of legal battles over the legitimacy of Abure’s position.

In a significant turn of events, the Court of Appeal recently affirmed Abure’s leadership, dismissing an appeal filed by Lucky Shaibu, a party member aligned with Apapa.

However, the legal battles continued, and in a new ruling by the Supreme Court, the Court of Appeal’s judgment recognizing Abure as National Chairman was set aside.

The apex court held that the Court of Appeal lacked jurisdiction to adjudicate matters related to the internal leadership of a political party, thus removing Abure from his role as LP Chairman.

In February 2024, he was arrested by the Edo State Police Command on charges of attempted murder and other related accusations.

The arrest followed a petition by former LP Youth Leader, Eragbe Anselm Aphimia, who claimed that Abure had orchestrated a violent attack on him and his colleague in December 2023.

Abure was released after a brief detention, but the incident added to the growing list of controversies surrounding his leadership.

Further complicating his situation were accusations of financial mismanagement. Oluchi Opara, the suspended National Treasurer of the party, accused Abure of embezzling N3 billion from the party’s coffers.

These allegations led to calls for greater transparency and accountability within the Labour Party, and critics voiced concerns about Abure’s autocratic leadership style.

In addition to the financial and legal allegations, Abure was accused of attempting to disrupt the party’s gubernatorial primaries in Edo State, which were scheduled for February 2024.

This further fueled criticism of his leadership, with party members accusing him of undermining the democratic process within the party.

Net worth

Julius Abure’s estimated net worth is currently estimated to about $1.5 million. His wealth primarily stems from his political career and involvement in various public service roles.

While he is not known for being a business magnate, his leadership position within the Labour Party and the influence that comes with it have contributed to his financial standing.