The crisis within the Labour Party (LP) appears to have escalated following reports of a takeover by its Board of Trustees (BoT).
At a convention held in Nnewi, Anambra State, Julius Abure was reelected as National Chairman, alongside the reelection of several national officers of the party.
However, in a statement released yesterday, the party’s BoT Chairman, Sylvester Ejiofor, expressed concern over the takeover, asserting that it occurred after the expiration of the tenure of the National Working Committee (NWC) led by Abure. Ejiofor emphasized the need to prevent any leadership vacuum within the party.
He further stated that the BoT, in conjunction with key stakeholders, would soon outline the procedures for conducting an all-inclusive and comprehensive national convention, citing a Federal High Court consent judgment delivered by Justice Gabriel Kolawole on March 20, 2018. This judgment recognized the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) as the rightful owner of the LP and mandated the organization of an expansive national convention.
Ejiofor’s statement reiterated the BoT’s commitment to fulfilling the agreement signed between former LP National Chairman, Julius Abure, the NLC, and the Trade Union Congress (TUC) on June 27, 2022, mediated by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
While commending LP members for their dedication to the party’s ideals, the BoT pledged to initiate processes promptly for an all-inclusive national convention, contrasting it with the recent events in Nnewi. The convention, according to the statement, would commence with grassroots congresses and would be conducted transparently, involving INEC, media, civil society, security agencies, and the general public.
The BoT also commended LP leader Mr. Peter Obi and other key stakeholders for abstaining from the events in Nnewi. They reassured all stakeholders of their commitment to reviving and repositioning the LP as a vehicle for the socio-political advancement of the country and its people.