The alleged takeover of the Labour Party (LP) by its Board of Trustees (BoT) may have pushed the party into deeper crisis.
A statement by the party’s BoT Chairman, Sylvester Ejiofor, said the takeover following the “expiration of the tenure of the National Working Committee (NWC) of the party led by its National Chairman, Julius Abure.”
The LP returned Abure as National Chairman at a convention held in Nnewi, Anambra State. Some national officers of the party were also returned.
But the BoT said it was taking over to avoid any leadership vacuum.
The statement said the BoT of the party, in consultation with major stakeholders, will soon communicate the processes for the conduct of an all-inclusive and expansive national convention.
The statement reads: “This is in line with the March 20, 2018 Federal High Court consent judgment delivered by Justice Gabriel Kolawole which recognised the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) as the owners of the LP and mandated that an all-inclusive and expansive National Convention of the LP be held.
“Following the expiration of the tenure in office of the immediate past National Working Committee of the LP headed by Mr. Julius Abure, the BoT, in line with the party’s constitution, has stepped in to steer the affairs of the LP. This step is to avoid any leadership vacuum in the LP.
“Furthermore, the BoT of the LP, in consultation with major stakeholders in the party will soon communicate the processes for the conduct of an all-inclusive and expansive national convention of the LP. This is in line with the March 20, 2018 Federal High Court consent judgment delivered by Justice Gabriel Kolawole which recognised the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) as the owners of the LP and mandated that an all-inclusive and expansive national convention of the LP be held.
“The decision of the BoT is also in furtherance of the agreement signed between the former national chairman of the LP, Mr. Julius Abure, and the NLC and the Trade Union Congress (TUC) on 27th June, 2022, which was mediated by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
“While we commend members of the LP, especially workers, students, youths, market women and men, Obidients, and candidates on the platform of the LP for their contributions and fidelity to the ideals of the party, the BoT promises to quickly set in motion processes for the conduct of an all-inclusive and expansive national convention.
“Unlike the charade that took place today in Nnewi and in tandem with the principles of popular democracy, the all-inclusive national convention will start with grassroots congresses at ward, local government, state and ultimately at the national level.
“This process will not leave any genuine member of LP out and will be held in the full view of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), media, civil society, security agents and the general public.
“We commend the leader of the LP, Mr. Peter Obi and key stakeholders in the LP for declining to deodorize the malfeasance that took place in Nnewi with their presence.
“The BoT assures all stakeholders that we are committed to reclaiming and repositioning the LP as the vehicle for the socio-political emancipation of our dear country, her working people and populace.”
It would be recalled that the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) had earlier asked Abure to shelve his planned secret national convention.
The NLC had in a statement on Friday, March 15, accused Abure of running the Labour Party as a Sole Administrator by secretly scheduling a supposed national convention of the party without consulting stakeholders.
Members of the NLC, which accused Abure of “financial rascality”, had on Wednesday, March 20, occupied the National headquarters of the Labour Party in Abuja, calling for Abure’s sack as National Chairman of the party.
Reacting to Abure’s re-election earlier on Wednesday, Benson Upah, Spokesperson of the NLC, said, “It is an illegality, a nullity. The whole exercise was a charade! Nothing can legitimise such brazen impunity.”
Also, the factional chairman of the Party in Anambra State, Peter Okoye, boasted that the Nnewi national convention will not stand.
Describing the convention as a sham, Okoye queried: “This is not a convention. We are on top of the matter. It’s purely illegal. There was no ward congress, no local government congress, no state congress, and now who and who are the elected delegates that are electing the National Working Committee (NWC) members?
“The NLC was not there, TUC was not there, the owners of the party and members of the NEC and BOT members were not there either. So, who is holding the convention?”
