Akinwande Soji-Ojo
The deputy national chairman of Labour Party (LP), Ayo Olorunfemi, has said it is absurd for the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) to claim ownership of the party.
The leadership of NLC and the LP have been at loggerheads over the running of the opposition party’s affairs.
NLC had passed a vote of no confidence on LP National Chairman, Julius Abure, and called for his resignation.
The NLC also alleged that Abure is running the affairs of the LP like a sole administrator.
In its reaction, LP said if the NLC President, Joe Ajaero is desperate to succeed Abure as chairman, he should resign as NLC President and contest during the party’s national convention.
On Wednesday, NLC members picketed the national secretariat of the LP in Abuja, and called for the postponement of the party’s convention.
During the protest, some NLC members reiterated that LP belongs to the NLC.
Reacting to the development while featuring on Arise TV programme, ‘Morning Show‘ on Thursday, Olorunfemi said LP is owned by Nigerian workers and not NLC.
The deputy chairman said any worker interested in the party’s decision-making process must be a duly registered member of the party.
“The Labour Party belongs to Nigerian workers, not NLC. The earlier we understand this, the better.
“We have TUC, NLC, professional bodies and the informal sector of the economy, and they are all owners of the Labour Party. So, for NLC to lay sole claim to the ownership of the party is absurd.
“NLC has a representative in the party’s NWC and BoT, the TUC also has the same. So, NLC cannot be laying claims to the Labour Party. It is truly owned by Nigerian workers.
“Even at that, any worker who wants to be a member of the party must be duly registered. You cannot claim to own a party and sit in Abuja and continue to claim ownership. It does not work that way,” he said.
