Speaking at a press conference in Abuja on Monday, Abure insisted that no financial issue was discussed during the talks, stating that negotiations focused solely on power-sharing arrangements and party structure.

According to him, nobody requested money and no financial offer was made at any stage of the discussions.

Abure explained that his faction proposed a political arrangement that would allow Governor Otti to nominate candidates for governorship, National Assembly, and state assembly positions in Abia State, alongside concessions involving key national party offices.

He claimed that the reconciliation efforts eventually failed because Otti allegedly demanded the dissolution of the existing party structure, a condition his faction rejected.

The LP chairman also alleged that certain political interests were working to weaken the Labour Party following its performance in the 2023 general elections.

He further claimed that some individuals who benefited from the party’s electoral success were now being used against it.

Abure maintained that the leadership produced during the March 27, 2024 national convention in Nnewi remains the legitimate leadership of the party.

He added that despite ongoing legal disputes, his faction would continue with its own primaries and candidate nomination process ahead of the 2027 elections.

The LP factional chairman also criticised the Nenadi Usman-led camp, accusing it of imposing excessive nomination fees on aspirants and violating internal party procedures in the scheduling of congresses and primaries.

He insisted that his faction would continue functioning as the authentic leadership of the Labour Party pending the outcome of the Supreme Court appeal.

According to reports, the development was contained in a list of screened APC senatorial aspirants from Kogi State said to have emerged from the party’s state secretariat.

Bello is currently facing two separate cases instituted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

One of the cases involves alleged money laundering amounting to ₦80.2 billion before Justice Emeka Nwite of the Federal High Court in Abuja.

He is also facing another 16-count charge bordering on alleged fraud and breach of trust involving ₦110.4 billion.

Sources within the party claimed Bello avoided the screening exercise to evade questions relating to the criminal allegations against him.

One source alleged that the former governor was disqualified after failing to participate in the screening process.

Another party source claimed that Bello’s clearance was affected by a section in the APC senatorial nomination form requiring aspirants to disclose any ongoing criminal investigations or cases.

The source further alleged that operatives of the EFCC were reportedly positioned around the party secretariat in anticipation of Bello’s possible appearance for the screening exercise.