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Akinwande Soji-Ojo
The crisis rocking the Labour Party has assumed another dimension following an alleged takeover of the party’s administration by its Board of Trustees (BoT).
The move comes hours after Julius Abure was re-elected as national chairman at the party’s national convention in Nnewi, Anambra State, on Wednesday.
The convention also saw all members of the National Working Committee returned.
The slots for representatives of both the Nigeria Labour Congress and the Trade Union Congress were, however, left vacant.
However, a statement made available to newsmen in Abuja on Thursday by the party’s BoT Chairman, Sylvester Ejiofor, announced that it has taken over the party following the expiration of Abure’s tenure and the “charade” that returned him to office in Nnewi as national chairman.
“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 judgement delivered by Justice Gabriel Kolawole which recognised the Nigeria Labour Congress 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 on June 27, 2022, which was mediated by the Independent National Electoral Commission.
“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, media, civil society, security agents, and the general public,” the statement read.
NLC rejects Abure
Meanwhile, the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), which wanted Abure out as national chairman, has declared the convention a nullity, vowing that Abure would not be recognised
Reacting to the outcome of the convention, NLC spokesperson, Benson Upah, said: “It’s an illegality, a nullity. The whole exercise was a charade! Nothing can legitimise such brazen impunity.”
Speaking on labour’s next line of action, Upah said: “You wait and see.”