By Ayodele Oni
The purported re-election of Mr Julius Abure as the National Chairman of Labour Party, (LP) for a second term by a unanimous affirmation of delegates has become questionable, controversial, and may not stand as the Board of Trustees, (BoT) of the Party has backed out of the exercise.
Instead, the BoT has announced its take-over pending the conduct of another election to pick new and legal members of the National Working Committee, (NWC).
For the records, Leader of the Party, and its Presidential Candidate who gave it an unprecedented life during the 2024 Presidential Election was not at the controversial Convention which re-elected Abure.LP Members of House of Representatives were also not present. They had objected to the Convention in an earlier statement.
Comrade S.O.Z. Ejiofor,
Chairman, Board of Trustees, Labour Party, said in a statement that the tenure of NWC, headed by Barrister Abure has expired.
According to the statement, the BoT will soon communicate the
processes for the conduct of an all-inclusive and expansive National
Convention of the Labour Party.
The statement reads: “Following the expiration of the tenure in office of the immediate past National Working Committee of the Labour Party headed by Mr. Julius Abure, the Board of Trustees of the Labour Party in line with the Labour Party Constitution has stepped in to steer the affairs of the Labour Party.
“This step is to avoid any leadership vacuum in the Labour Party.
“Furthermore, the Board of Trustees of the Labour Party 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 Labour Party.
“This is in line with the March 20, 2018 Federal High Court consent judgment delivered by Justice Gabriel Kolawole which recognized the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) as the owners of the Labour Party and mandated that an all-inclusive and expansive National Convention of the Labour Party be held.
“The decision of the Board of Trustees is also in furtherance of the agreement signed between the former National Chairman of the Labour Party, Mr. Julius Abure, and the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC) on 27th June 2022, which was mediated by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).”
It commended members of the Labour Party, especially workers, students, youths, market women and men, Obidients, and candidates on the platform of the Labour Party for their contributions and fidelity to the ideals of the party.
“The Board of Trustees promises to quickly set in motion processes for the conduct of an all-inclusive and expansive National Convention, unlike the charade that took place 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 Labour Party out and will be held in the full view of the Independent National Electoral Commission, media, civil society, security agents and the general public.
“We commend the leader of the Labour Party, Mr. Peter Obi and key stakeholders in the Labour Party 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 Labour Party as the vehicle for the socio-political emancipation of our dear country, her working people and populace.”
Abure has been engulfed in one scandal, controversy, or the other in the past couple of months. It climaxed a couple of weeks ago when the Political wing of the Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, stormed the LP Headquarters and demanded that Abure stands down as the Labour Party National Chairman over sundry allegations including fraud.
The purported Convention which re-elected Abure was scheduled for Umuahia, Abia State, before it was shifted to Nnewi.
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