The Labour Party (LP) has said a stakeholders’ meeting of the party being convened today by the Political Commission of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) is a mere jamboree.
The party described the meeting as illegal and whatever it arrives at as a nullity.
A statement yesterday in Abuja by the party’s National Publicity Secretary Obiora Ifoh reads: “It has come to the knowledge of the leadership of the Labour Party of a letter of invitation trending in some sections of the media purportedly written by some desperate characters in the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) inviting some Nigerians to an illegal stakeholders’ meeting scheduled to hold on Monday (today) in Abuja wherein they propose to appoint a caretaker committee for the Labour Party.
“This meeting being organised by some drama boys and attention-seeking personalities in the NLC is illegal as we have not authorised it and it is not supported by any law in the land. Therefore, its outcome (will be) a nullity. We are, therefore, calling on all genuine members of the party to disregard and shun the meeting.
“Few days ago, the Federal Government raised the electricity tariff to about 300 per cent and the NLC has neither responded to it or has called out its members to protest the increment but it is quick to convene an unlawful meeting of disgruntled members who are not even party members.
“We are calling on the law enforcement agencies to rise up to the occasion and abort this gathering which may likely degenerate to public nuisance.
“NLC does not have any proprietary right over the Labour Party and, therefore, cannot continue to lay claim to its ownership.”
Also, the LP presidential candidate in last year’s general election, Mr. Peter Obi, has said he is not planning to dump the party.
He reaffirmed his commitment to the party, dismissing rumours of his imminent departure.
Obi stressed that he was not desperate to be President but only felt concerned about the lives of fellow Nigerians.
Last week, Obi had threatened to dump the party, following the allegations of misappropriation of funds, the tussle for leadership and calls for the resignation of the party’s National Chairman Julius Abure.
Addressing reporters yesterday in Bauchi after inaugurating a borehole in Sabon Layi community, a suburb of Bauchi, Obi said he had no intentions of leaving the LP anytime soon.
He said: “I am not thinking of 2027. My concern for now is how to improve the living standards and conditions of Nigerians. Nobody should be talking about politics now. The focus should be on good governance that will make Nigeria better.”
Commenting on the internal crisis rocking the LP, Obi said: “The leadership crisis in the LP presently is not an abnormal thing. It is an in-house problem and it will be solved amicably as a family (matter).
“I have never thought of leaving the LP. I only advocated for peace because I am a man who believes in peace. I am a man who believes in unity; I am a man who believes that we are the same.
“I don’t see any difference between you and me. By the grace of God, I always want to do the right thing. That is the reason I came here personally. I would have asked someone else to represent me. But no, I didn’t.”
The Labour Party (LP) has described tomorrow’s stakeholders meeting called by the Political Commission of the Nigeria Labour Congress as a jamboree.
The party said the meeting was illegal and therefore nullified the outcome of the meeting.
Astatement by the National Publicity Secretary of the party, Obiora Ifoh on Sunday, reads: “It has come to the knowledge of the leadership of the Labour Party of a letter of invitation trending in some sections of the media purportedly written by some desperate characters in the Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC inviting some Nigerians to an illegal stakeholders meeting scheduled to hold on Monday in Abuja wherein they propose to appoint a caretaker committee for the Labour Party.
“This meeting being organised by some drama boys and attention seeking personalities in the NLC is illegal as we have not authorised it and it is not supported by any law in the land and therefore its outcome, a nullity. We are therefore calling on all genuine members of the party to disregard and shun the meeting.
“Few days ago, the Federal Government raise the electricity tariff to about 300 percent and the NLC has neither responded to it or has called out its members to protest the increment but it is quick to convene an unlawful meeting of disgruntled members who are not even party members.
“We are calling on the law enforcement agencies to rise up to the occasion and abort this gathering which may likely degenerate to public nuisance.
“NLC does not have any proprietary right over the Labour Party and therefore cannot continue to lay claim to its ownership.”
The Labour Party (LP) emerged as the third force during last year’s general election, winning one governorship seat and many state and national legislative seats. But, the success of the party has again thrown up another round of crisis leading to an alleged takeover of its administration by the Board of Trustees (BOT). Will the party survive this crisis or will it disintegrate? TONY AKOWE reports
The recent national convention held in Nnewi, Anambra State, by a faction of the Labour Party (LP) led by embattled National Chairman, Julius Abure has further widened the scope of the internal crises in the party.
The LP, which was formed by the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and its sister Labour Centre, the Trade Union Congress (TUC), has been embroiled in one internal crisis after the other since its formation. Incidentally, all the crises have always had one thing or the other to do with its national chairman. After a successful stint as national chairman, Dan Nwanyawu left the party to establish the Zenith Labour Party and return the certificate of registration to the NLC.
However, the NLC has had to intervene in the crisis in the party at every instance through its political commission. It is an open secret that the nation’s two Labour centres, NLC and TUC are responsible for the registration of the party, but has left its management in the hands of politicians. Interestingly, the LP constitution gives the two-labour centre due recognition in the composition of its leadership. President and General Secretary of the NLC and TUC are automatic members of the National Executive Committee, and the Board of Trustees of the party. The Labour Centres also sit on the National Working Committee of the party with the President and General Secretary as well as the Chairman of the Women Commission being members.
The exit of Nwanyawu paved the way for the emergence of Abdulkadir Abdulsalam as National Chairman of the party. But his tenure was dogged by lots of crises and controversies. While the crisis with Abdulsalam lasted, Dr. Mike Omotosho, backed by the NLC emerged as factional National Chairman of the party. The emergence of Omotosho as National Chairman in 2018 also had the backing of some state Chairmen of the party who accused Abdulsalam of financial impropriety. He was accused of embezzling N1.3 billion belonging to the party. While the crisis lasted, Abure was in the background serving as the National Secretary of the party. Incidentally, while Abdulsalam died in 2020, Dr Omotosho died in 2022, after stepping aside from his factional chairmanship position to pave the way for Abure to emerge as National Chairman in 2021. Shortly after the emergence of Julius Abure as National Chairman, the LP found itself in another leadership tussle with Lamidi Apapa claiming leadership of the party and alleging that Abure was not duly elected as National Chairman. while suspending the Abure-led executive. But Abure had the backing of the NLC having emerged after a peace process brokered by the Labour Centre and the Independent National Electoral Commission. So, when Apapa claimed leadership of the party, the NLC led a protest to the party secretariat in support of Abure. In addition, the Political Commission of the Labour Centre lashed out at Apapa, describing his actions in the party as shameful, especially when he went to the tribunal as national chairman. Secretary to the political commission said “The shameful conduct of Mr. Lamidi Apapa at the Presidential Election Petition Tribunal today, 17th May 2023, has once again brought to the fore the desperation of certain elements in the political class to deploy all manner of subterfuge and criminality to divide and despoil the massive goodwill currently being enjoyed by the Labour Party all over Nigeria. It is very unfortunate that Mr. Lamidi Apapa who continues to act lawlessly as an impostor ascribing to himself a vague status as the Chairman of the Labour Party and on the claims of representing the Nigeria Labour Congress, is receiving protection from institutions of the state whose mandate is the preservation of law and order. This perfidy by Mr. Lamidi Apapa and his cohorts has been sustained by interested political actors in Nigeria whose abiding wish is the death of the Labour Party. Mr Lamidi Apapa is a meddlesome interloper who is being used by reactionary forces to deny Nigerians the benefit of alternative political thought and organisation geared towards genuine national redemption and transformation. The NLC Political Commission wishes to reiterate its earlier statement disowning the so-called factional leadership of the Labour Party led by Mr Lamidi Apapa. Any attempt to allow Mr Lamidi Apapa to foist the show of shame he and his minions exhibited today at the sitting of the Presidential Election Petition Tribunal would be strongly resisted by Organised Labour.”
The latest crisis in the party has led to a series of name-calling and accusations against each leader. For example, when the House of Representatives caucus of the party called for the postponement of the Nnewi convention to allow for wider consultation, the leadership of the party described them as unknowledgeable in the working of the party.
They went ahead with the convention, even though some major stakeholders stayed away from the convention. It also elected leaders without putting in place proper modalities for such. Some stakeholders in the party said there was no convention or electoral committee put in place for the convention which the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has said it did not monitor.
It was the erstwhile National Treasurer, Oluchi Opara that ignited the latest crisis when she accused Abure of fraud, alleging that he could not account for about N3 billion of the money the party got from the sale of nomination forms for the 2023 general elections.
In June 2022, the NLC gave credence and recognition to the Julius Abure-led leadership of the party. The then NLC President, Ayuba Wabba said in a statement that “the point is that the Labour Party is what the Nigeria Labour Congress and the Trade Union Congress (TUC) say it is”. The leadership of the NLC and TUC recognize the leadership of the LP led by Abure, a former trade union leader and workers are part of the leadership. INEC recognizes only the LP leadership led by the Chairman, Barr. Julius Abure and the National Secretary, Alhaji Farouk Umaru Ibrahim. They are the only Labour Party officials whose details are provided on the INEC website. We understand that with the current repositioning of the Labour Party as the party for workers, youths, students, women, traders, farmers, professionals, physically disabled persons, the unemployed and the downtrodden, the Labour Party has become the albatross of establishment political parties who have suddenly become jittery and are devising all forms of conspiracy theories and subterfuge to distract the Labour Party from ongoing mass mobilization efforts for sweeping electoral victory in the 2023 general elections.
Ironically, the Abure-led LP has continued to deny ownership of the party by the NLC, even though it acknowledged the fact that the Labour Centre registered the party. It argued that the electoral act does not confer ownership of political parties on any individual or organization as it of registered as a body corporate. But acting on what the party called pressure from the NLC, its Board of Trustees said it was taking over the running of the party, promising to reposition it and conduct an all-inclusive national convention.
Established under Article 8 of the Labour Party constitution, the Board of Trustees is assigned its duties in Article 9. The Nation discovered that none of the duties assigned to the BoT by the party constitution include taking over the running of the party in times of crisis or at any point in time. Rather, the constitution expects them to ensure that the highest standards of morality are maintained in all the activities of the Party, with powers to call to order any officers of the Party whose conduct falls below the norms. Part of the responsibilities assigned to the BOT is also to ensure that the Party enjoys a good image before the Nigerian populace and that the Party is in good political health, mediate in disputes between the executive and legislative arms of government; carry out all such other functions and activities as may be referred to it by the National Executive Committee or the National Convention.
In taking over the running of the Labour Party, the BOT said “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 owner 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).
It added: “Unlike the charade that took place today in Nnewi and 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 INEC, media, civil society, security agents and the general public.”
But the Abure-led LP has denied the existence of any BoT for the party, adding that since stepping down as the first National Chairman of the party, Comrade Ejiofor has not attended any meeting of the party, not known even in his ward and has not paid membership due to qualify him as a member of the party. The statement by the party said “The point here is that the LP is not aware of the existence of any Board of Trustees. NLC has continued to propose for the reconstitution of the BoT as well as the convocation of the National Convention. Over 90 per cent of persons being suggested to form membership of the proposed BoT have since left the party to join other political parties. Some even contested various political positions on the platform of other political parties while some others featured prominently in the presidential campaigns of the other political parties even when LP equally featured a candidate in the 2023 general election. This is what desperation in the ranks of the NLC can cause. Why not let the man enjoy his retirement? Why drag him into your mess? Let Comrade Ejiofor show evidence of one meeting he convened in the last decade of his so-called BoT.” They describe the action as muscle flexing, adding that “the NLC should no longer be under any illusion that it owns the LP. LP is not a political association; it is a party subscribed by all Nigerians, including workers, non-workers, and students, amongst others. Only people who understand the rules of the party and play by it such as carrying party cards and paying membership dues can have a say on the matters of the party. Incidentally, Comrades Ajaero and Ejiofor are not members and will not be allowed to interfere with the internal matters of the party.”
However, a study of the party constitution indicates that the BoT has no power to convene a national convention of the party as only the National Secretary, on the directive of the National Executive Committee can summon a national convention. In addition, the Electoral Acts mandates the Independent National Electoral Commission to relate and receive information regarding the activities of the parties from the National Chairman and Secretary and not the Board of Trustees.
Abure went ahead with the recent Nnewi convention, which returned him as national chairman, despite the opposition against it by party stakeholders. INEC which has the mandate under the Electoral Act to monitor such exercise denied monitoring the March 27 convention. It was however not clear why the commission failed to monitor the convention, even though the party said it notified the commission. But it is on record that the NLC wrote to the commission not to recognize the convention. The NLC, through its lawyers, also wrote the legal adviser of the party and warned that if the party did not desist and stop the convention, it would sue the LP for contempt because of the two valid judgements of the Federal High Court. The NLC argued that holding the convention would amount to contempt of court because of two valid court judgments.
According to the party constitution, its National Working Committee (NWC) is expected to be elected at a national convention must include one National Chairman, three Deputy National Chairmen at least one of whom must be a female, six National Vice Chairmen representing the six geopolitical zones, one National Secretary, three Deputy National Secretaries, NLC and TUC Presidents, General Secretaries of NLC and TUC, National Treasurer, National Financial Secretary, and National Publicity Secretary. Others are National Organizing Secretary, National Legal Adviser, National Auditor, National Women leader, Six Deputy National Women leaders representing the six geo-political zones, National Youth Leader and Six Assistant National Youth Leaders representing each of the six geo-political zones.
However, a list of officers elected at the Nnewi convention seen by The Nation revealed that many of the constitutional positions were not filled at the convention. Those elected include the National Chairman, National Secretary two Deputy National Chairmen (all male), three Vice Chairmen (for North Central, South-South and South East), one Deputy National Secretary, National Treasurer, National Financial Secretary, National Publicity Secretary, National Organising Secretary, National Legal Adviser, National Woman Leader, National Youth Leader and two Assistant youth leaders (North West and South-South). The communique of the convention sighted by The Nation states that the newly constituted NWC was given the power to fill the vacant positions, but it is not clear which positions are to be filled as the list of elected officers indicates that only three deputy National Chairmanship positions were not filled. This is contrary to the positions indicated in the party constitution. It was not clear what happened to the other positions or why they were not filled. At the time of this report, it was not clear whether the positions were removed from the new NWC as a result of an amendment to the party constitution or a mere oversight. However, article 30 of the Constitution provides how the Constitution can be amended. It states that “the National Convention of the Party shall have the sole right of amending any provision of this constitution based on a majority vote, provided that the amendment does not contravene any of the laws of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, and shall be lodged with the Independent National Electoral Commission INEC) within 30 days from the date of the amendment”. Newly elected National Publicity Secretary of the party, Obiora Ifoh told The Nation that an amendment to the constitution was approved by the convention to increase the number of years of tenure of elected executives at the ward, local government and state levels from three to four years. The amendment also includes making all former elected officers who are members of the party delegates to the national convention as well as increasing the number of Deputy National Chairmen from three to five.
Aside from the NLC which called for the postponement of the convention, the leader of the LP caucus in the House of Representatives, Victor Afam Ogene had also called for postponement to enable stakeholders to brainstorm and address the problems on the ground before the convention. Ogene was convened that the party did not conduct congress at the ward, state and local government levels before calling for the national convention. But the party came down heavily on him saying he was unknowledgeable as far as the party constitution was concerned. Obiora Ifoh who signed the statement against Ogene said “By this statement from Ogene, it is pertinent to point out that he is very unknowledgeable as it relates to the provision of the constitution of the party under which he was elected. We had expected, that even though he is coming from the background of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) and the All-Progressives Congress (APC), he should not mistake the APC and PDP constitutions to that of the Labour Party. We would like to educate him to note that as the other parties’ constitutions are different, so is the Labour Party. In line with Article 15:1-4 of our party’s constitution, there is no equality of tenure. While the ward, local government, and state executives have three years of tenure, the national executive has four years of tenure. At the moment, party executives in over 16 states are subsisting because they have conducted their congresses. We had expected Ogene to read the constitution of the party before making public comments against the party. The Leader of the Caucus is the alter ego of the party who should defend the party policy and programmes in the National Assembly. And for him to say that the House of Representatives caucus was not informed about the convention is a mischief taken too far. Again, considering the sacrifices made by Nigerians in electing these Labour Party legislators, we had expected them to be the ambassadors of the people. It appears that they sit at the National Assembly for themselves alone. It is only when it concerns the party that they flex their muscles. We, therefore, advise our lawmakers to desist from rushing to the press on party matters. Party internal matters must remain and keep internal matters. The party will not hesitate to discipline any party member who will not respect the supremacy of the party. The party is prepared to defend its ideology and constitution at all times, irrespective of ox is gored.”
Mr Harrison Ogara, member representing Igbo-Eze South Constituency in the Enugu State House of Assembly, has described as false, the claim that there is a leadership crisis in the Labour Party (LP).
Ogara made this known on Saturday in Enugu while reacting to the defection of six LP house of assembly members to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) last Thursday.
The lawmaker maintained that there was no crisis in the party to warrant the defections to the PDP, stressing that the claim was “untrue and deceptive”.
“They say Gov. Peter Mbah is performing, yes he is. But you can still be at your party and support him.
“For the past nine months, we have been working like a team, not minding the party we come from. I can support him from the Labour Party, which is what I am doing.
“It is like calling a dog a bad name just to hang it.
“The truth is that they wanted to leave for the PDP. They wanted to abandon the vehicle that brought them to the House of Assembly,” the lawmaker said.
Ogara maintained that the defectors were free to join any political party of their choice, but they should not do that through deceit and lies.
According to him, LP will ensure that the seats of the defected lawmakers are declared vacant.
“I believe that the Labour party will approach the court to declare the seats of the defectors vacant because section 51 of the 2022 Electoral Act provided that if you cross-carpet from your party to another as a legislator, you automatically lose your seat,” Ogara said.
He regretted that the defectors had dumped the platform that brought them to power, adding that going forward, the Labour Party would not give its ticket to anyone not committed to it.
The Labour Party has dismissed the existence of a Board of Trustees (BoT) for the party.
The national publicity secretary of the party, Obiora Ifoh said this in a statement on Thursday, March 28, 2024.
The BoT had in a statement said it had taken over the leadership of the party following the “expiration of the tenure of the National Working Committee of the party led by its National Chairman, Julius Abure.”
Abure was returned elected as chairman at the party’s national convention in Nnewi, Anambra state on Wednesday.
In a statement by the chairman of the BoT of the party and the first national chairman of the Labour Party, Sylvester Ejiofor, the body said it was taking over the running of the party to avoid any leadership vacuum.
The statement said the BoT of the 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.
But responding in a statement, Ifoh said: “Labour Party on Wednesday successfully conducted its national convention in Nnewi Anambra state and Barrister Julius Abure was elected unanimously and overwhelmingly by over 350 delegates that were in attendance.
“The attendant list includes the Governor of Abia state, Dr. Alex Otti who was represented by his deputy Ikechukwu Emetu, the Deputy Minority Whip of the House of Representatives, Hon George Ozodinobi who led over 10 members of the National Assembly, the entire members of the Abia state House of Assembly led by the Speaker, Hon. Emmanuel Emeruwa, the Deputy Minority Leader of Imo state House of Assembly, Hon. Clinton Amadi led other of his colleagues in the Imo state House of Assembly, other members of state assembly from Enugu, the entire commissioners and top government officials from Abia state amongst others.
“Despite this huge success, it came to the leadership of the party as a huge surprise of a statement trending in the social media purportedly from one Comrade S. O. Z Ejiofor on behalf of the Board of Trustees of the party claiming that he has taken over the leadership of the party.
“Amusing as that will sound, but with the greatest respect to the former leader of the party, we sympathise with the Comrade who has since left the political scene more than a decade ago only to be energized, briefed and drafted into this unnecessary tussle by the disgruntled elements in the Nigerian Labour Congress, NLC.
“First, ever since Ejiofor stepped down as the first National chairman of the Labour Party over two decades ago, he has neither attended any meeting nor played any noticeable role as a member of the party. He is not even known in his ward and has not paid a single dime as membership dues which qualifies him as a member. It is surprising therefore that after he was “visited” by some leaders of NLC, he suddenly woke up from his slumber.
He added: “The point here is that the Labour Party is not aware of the existence of any Board of Trustees. Recall that NLC has continued to propose for the reconstitution of the BoT as well as the convocation of the National Convention. Over 90 percent of persons being suggested to form the membership of the proposed BoT have since left the party to join other political parties, some even contested various political positions on the platform of other political parties while some others featured prominently in the presidential campaigns of the other political parties even when Labour Party equally featured a candidate in the 2023 general election.
“This is what desperation in the ranks of the NLC can cause. Why not let the man enjoy his retirement, why drag him into your mess? Let Comrade Ejiofor show evidence of one meeting he convened in the last one decade of his so-called BoT.
“Enough of all these political muscle flexing, Barrister Julius Abure has just been elected by the convention for the first time as the National Chairman of the Labour Party, we urge our detractors to please sheathe the sword and join us to salvage the nation.
“Article 77.—(1) of the Electoral Act states that A political party registered under this Act shall be a body | corporate with perpetual succession and a common seal and may sue and | be sued in its corporate name.
“It therefore means that the Labour Party is a body different from the body that founded it. The NLC should no longer be under any illusion that it owns the Labour Party. Labour Party is not a political association, it is a party subscribed by all Nigerians including workers, non workers, students amongst others. Only people who understand the rules of the party and play by it such as carrying party cards and paying membership dues can have a say on the matters of the party. Incidentally, Comrades Ajaero and Ejiofor are not members and will not be allowed to interfere with the internal matters of the party.”
No fewer than six members of the Labour Party (LP) of the Enugu State House of Assembly have officially defected to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
The lawmakers had attempted to defect last Sunday in an elaborate party that abruptly ended with people being asked to leave Okpara Square, the proposed venue of the event.
However, on Thursday during plenary at the state House of Assembly complex, the lawmakers made their defection known in a letter read by the speaker, Hon. Uche Ugwu.
According to the speaker, the defecting members include Mr. Ejike Nwa Nsukka, (Igbo-Eze North 1); Mr. Johnson Ugwu (Enugu North); Ms. Princess Ugwu (Enugu South Rural); Mr. Pius Onyeka Ezugwu (Nsukka West); Mr. Williams T. Amuka (Igbo-Etiti East) and Mr. Osita Eze (Oji River).
The speaker said that their defection was a result of the “existence of irreconcilable division, incessant crisis within the Labour Party at the national level and across all the state chapters.
“Regrettably, the party has evolved into a state of perpetual discord with various factions embroiled in legal battles thereby undermining its ability to effectively serve the interest of the people.
“The Labour Party once a beacon of hope for progressive ideas has regrettably become synonymous with internal squabbles, thereby reducing its capacity to fulfil the aspirations of the electorate”.
They cited the cases of the Abure and Apapa factions as well as the national treasurer as some of the divisions within the party.
The Edo state chapter of the Labour Party (LP) on March 27, kicked against inadequate security in Edo.
It called on Governor Godwin Obaseki to quickly address the issue to ensure the protection of lives and property in the hitherto volatile south-south state.
The LP, through its publicity secretary, Comrade Sam Uroupa, described as unacceptable, the March 15 kidnap of Edo chairman of PDP, Tony Aziegbemi, who regained his freedom at 3 a.m. on March 26, after spending eleven days in the den of the kidnappers.
It said: “Edo LP rejoices with Dr. Aziegbemi and his family on his safe return from the kidnappers’ den. It, however, strongly condemns the security lapses in the Obaseki-led PDP government in Edo State.
“The kidnap of Dr. Aziegbemi, a high-ranking official, is a stark reminder of the inadequate security measures in Edo State. The inability of the Edo State government to protect its own members raises serious concerns about its capacity to ensure the safety of all Edo residents.
“There is the failure of the acclaimed Edo security network situation room to provide essential intelligence, resulting in Dr Aziegbemi spending eleven days in the den of the kidnappers. A government that cannot secure its high-ranking officials cannot be entrusted with the well-being of ordinary citizens.”
Edo LP also reiterated its commitment under its governorship candidate, Olumide Akpata, to prioritise the welfare and security of all individuals, regardless of their status.
It said: “The lives and property of the common people and the high-ranking officials are of equal importance and deserve adequate protection.
“When LP is voted into power on September 21, 2024, it will not engage in political gamesmanship with the lives of the residents of Edo State, but will steadfastly advocate a safe and secure environment for all residents.
“One of LP’s governorship candidate’s agenda is to focus on enhancing security measures and promoting the welfare of the people of Edo State if elected into power. The party’s dedication to ensuring a safe and prosperous environment for all residents is reiterated as a core principle guiding its policies and actions.”
Edo LP also stated the safety of lives and property of residents of the state must be given priority attention, with security lapses to be avoided.
Internal squabble is threatening to tear the Labour Party (LP) apart. This came in the wake of a series of allegations of impropriety levelled against its National Chairman, Julius Abure. Deputy Political Editor RAYMOND MORDI traces the genesis of the crisis and what it portends for the opposition party.
Things are falling apart for the Labour Party. From relative obscurity, the LP emerged as a third force in Nigerian politics almost overnight, following the entrance of former Anambra State Governor Peter Obi into the party ahead of the election. The youth embraced the LP.
But, the LP is currently facing a serious challenge. Internal squabble surfaced within the party, after the general election, following allegations of corruption against its National Chairman, Julius Abure. One allegation surfaced after another; puting the national chairman under pressure to defend his integrity and that of the party. This development, it is said, has dealt a heavy blow to the image of the party that had embodied the hope of many youths.
Abure’s trouble began after the last general elections when some party members, led by Lamidi Apapa and Abayomi Arabambi, accused him of mismanaging the party’s campaign fund. The Apapa-led faction, through a series of court cases, tried to lay claim to the leadership of the party at the national level, but the Court of Appeal eventually upheld the Abure-led National Working Committee (NWC) as the authentic one. Besides, members of the Apapa faction were easily dismissed as moles planted by the ruling party to destabilise the LP.
However, the crisis within the party took a dangerous dimension last week, with members of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) picketing the party’s national secretariat and some of its state offices. The NLC accused Abure of running the affairs of the LP as a sole administrator. It contends that the party is owned by Nigerian workers and that they are not going to have a dictator running the party as he pleases.
Speaking when workers occupied the party’s headquarters in Abuja, the Deputy President of the NLC’s Political Commission, Dr Theophilus Ndubuaku, said the picketing was to express workers’ grievances towards Abure’s administration of the party. He said: “Nigeria is not the only country that has a Labour Party backed by the Organised Labour. There are so many others. Why would our own be different? The essence of registering a Labour Party in this country is not only to become a president or hold an office but also to create a viable opposition and in any country where there is no viable opposition, there would be dictatorship. The reason we set up this party is to make us have good governance in this country.”
Ndubuaku faulted what he described as the unilateral convocation of the national convention without consulting the relevant stakeholders. He said: “There have been court judgments declaring that the Labour Party is owned by the NLC and there has been intervention by INEC, telling Abure to appoint Board of Trustees (BOT) members and organize an all-inclusive convention. But what we now see is a convention that we do not know who and who are going to be at that convention and the elected officers in the National Assembly thought he insulted them.
“You will not believe that a day before Abure issued the notice of the convention, he was with the NLC president and the political commission in the NLC office without telling them. All we are saying is that we do not want Abure; he should resign and go. He cannot be the sole administrator of the Labour Party.”
The Acting General Secretary of the NLC, Comrade Bello Ismail, added that the commission had been engaging Abure, thinking he was following due process, but was disappointed at the end of the day. His words: “We were also thinking he was going to organise a convention, in line with the understanding with labour to have an all-inclusive convention.
“But, Abure, knowing that he can never survive an all-inclusive convention wanted to do a convention in the night. Those in the NLC Political Commission have made a lot of efforts to reach this state of taking over our party by ourselves. We would insist that all democratic norms are fulfilled. We will insist that workers take back their party.
“We want a convention, where we are all the stakeholders and we are very active and all will participate. We do not want a convention where one man will hand-pick the officers of the party. We want a convention where in the 37 states of the federation, all stakeholders, including workers, youths, young people, and informal workers can have a say in the party.
“We are not money people, but we have a voice and we want a party where, without money, we can participate, and that is what the Labour Party offers. Now, it is in the hands of this usurper, he is looking for N30 million, N40 million, and so on to buy forms, excluding the people who founded the party. Enough is enough, Abure must go.”
In a swift reaction, the LP described the forcible entry of NLC members into its headquarters and secretariat as illegal and criminal. Its National Publicity Secretary, Obiora Ifoh, said the party was appalled by the desperation exhibited by the NLC President, Joe Ajaero. Ifoh said: “The party notes that the president of the NLC, Comrade Joe Ajaero’s greed and inordinate ambition have pushed him into losing every sense of discretion and decency in his recent conduct, be it in his affairs with the workers or even the government.
“As a party, we wonder how Ajaero would lead a band of lawless persons who are known to have partisan interests in other major political parties such as the PDP and the APC against a recognized independent political party. Ajaero’s continuous claim that the NLC owns the Labour Party is not in any way supported by either the Electoral Act or the Constitution. For his information, a political party is owned by those who are card-carrying or financial members of the party.
“We are aware that more than 90 per cent of the members of the NLC have not met this condition and therefore cannot claim to be the owners of the party. The constitution also provides that no organisation can own any other organisation. The NLC as an organisation can therefore not claim the ownership of the Labour Party.”
The latest LP crisis has been narrowed down to the clamour for Abure’s removal as national chairman. This is not unconnected to his unending alleged financial scandals. Though the Abure leadership has continued to deny any financial impropriety, insisting that the party is open to a forensic audit of its accounts, the accusation has refused to go away.
There is also the claim that his continued occupation of the national chairmanship position is illegal because no convention elected him. This viewpoint was echoed by former LP Deputy National Chairman, Callistus Okafor. The former national officer who spoke on Arise Television last Friday criticized what he described as Abure’s move to secretly hold a convention without elected delegates and conduct of ward, local governments and state congresses.
Okafor added: “I must tell you that the last time the LP held its convention was in 2014 in Akure, Ondo State. Since then, no convention has been held. Abure knelt and begged that he should be made a member of the NWC in our 2014 convention. Abure was made Assistant Organising Secretary. In our constitution, there is no provision for the office of the Assistant Organising Secretary but he was chosen for that office because he pleaded for it.
“No convention elected Abure as LP national chairman. All those parading themselves as members of the NWC are sitting on illegality.”
Abure is fighting for survival on different fronts. Despite the lingering accusations against him, he had managed to hang on, with the backing of Obi and his supporters across the country, members of the Obidient Movement who are not necessarily card-carrying members of the LP.
But, indications are that Obi and his supporters have abandoned Abure to his fate and are currently searching for a new national chairman. The Lagos State chapter openly called for the resignation of Mr Abure last week. A source within the party said a former Deputy National Campaign Manager of the Obi/Datti Presidential Campaign Council, Comrade Isaac Bulama is being considered as the next national chairman.
It was Abure’s move to hold a national convention today (Wednesday, March 27) without due process, as his opponents allege, that deepened the crisis within the party. He was accused of planning to hold the convention in Umuahia, the Abia State capital. The planned convention was captured in a notice issued to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on March 13, 2024. Stakeholders in the party, it is said, were against the convention. For instance, the Abure-led NWC is at loggerheads with members of the LP National Caucus in the House of Representatives, over the alleged plan to conduct the convention without the input of stakeholders. They alleged that Abure intended to impose leadership on the party.
Besides, the revelations about a month ago by a former LP National Treasurer, Mrs Oluchi Oparah, do not portray Abure and the LP in a good light. She accused Abure of misappropriation of N3 billion out of the N3.5 billion purportedly raised for the 2023 general election campaign. Mrs Oparah who spoke at a press conference in Abuja, said under Abure’s watch, over N3.5 billion was raised from the sale of nomination forms for the 2023 general elections.
She revealed that during off-cycle elections in Imo, Kogi and Bayelsa states last year, the party also raised around N958 million from nomination forms and donations. She added: “These funds have completely vanished under Abure’s oversight – with zero paper trail. While on a fundraising tour in the United States in August 2023, Mr. Abure and his cronies raised hundreds of thousands of dollars from the party’s diaspora community.
“To date, he has not declared a single dollar to me or the NWC, essentially stealing donations meant for the party’s development. Indeed, not a single cent from donations received was ever paid into any of the party’s accounts.”
Mrs Oparah said since assuming office in 2021, Abure has engaged in a series of actions that not only undermine the principles upon which the Labour Party was founded but also constitute grave violations of trust and fiduciary responsibility.
She was subsequently suspended for six months, for making such allegations and bringing the party to disrepute.
In his reaction to the allegations, Ifoh said Oparah’s allegations were malicious. He said the national treasurer was under some external influences and merely read out a concocted statement drafted by their detractors to further tar the image of the party.
Ifoh said the LP did not earn N3.5 billion as claimed and that the national chairman did not embezzle any money that belonged to the party as alleged. His words: “The records are there, except that Ms Oluchi Oparah doesn’t even understand simple accounting, even as a treasurer. An external auditor is engaged by the party and our account is under constant scrutiny of INEC or other regulatory bodies.”
Observers believe the current division and allegations of corruption have undermined the integrity of the party. In a multi-party democracy, a strong and virile opposition is a necessity to keep the party in power in check.
The Chairman of the Partners for Electoral Reform, a non-governmental organisation, Ezenwa Nwagwu echoed this viewpoint.
He said the infighting and internal divisions within opposition parties “have weakened their unity and effectiveness, making it harder to present a cohesive alternative to the ruling party”. He added: “But now, cases of corruption and a clear violation of laws by opposition figures are providing ethical challenges that make it harder for them to challenge the government.
“Some people might find some of my positions very uncomfortable. But to transform our country, we must embrace some hard truth and continue to educate Nigerians on how to hold our politicians to account, whether in government or out of government.
“Is the economy in a bad state? Yes. Is there a heightened security challenge? Yes. But in the wake of the internal crisis and corruption allegations rocking the leadership of the opposition party, especially the Labour Party, one wonders how such opposition can hold the government in power to account.”
The national convention of the Labour Party (LP) planned to hold at the International Conference Centre (ICC) Umuahia, in Abia state has been moved to Anambra state.
Our correspondent reports that the change of the venue took some members of the party by surprise as they had booked and paid for hotel accommodation
A letter dated, March 20, signed by the national chairman of the party, Julius Abure and the party’s national secretary, Alhaji Umar Farouk which was obtained by our correspondent, disclosed that the new venue of the congress would be Grand Masons Hotel, Nnewi, Anambra state.
According to the statement, the venue change was due to the earlier venue’s unavailability for the congress on the scheduled date.
The statement, acknowledging potential inconveniences, urged members to attend and monitor the congress, confirming it will proceed on Wednesday, March 27, at 10:00 am.
