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Akinwande Soji-Ojo
The suspended national treasurer of the Labour Party, Oluchi Opara, has condemned the re-election of Julius Abure as the party’s national chairman.
Abure, who was re-elected for a second term in office at the convention held in Nnewi, Anambra State, on Wednesday, had been at loggerheads with the Joe Ajaero-led Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) over the control of the party.
The NLC had also called for the resignation of Abure and sent a letter to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), requesting the electoral body from recognising the national convention of the party.
Abure’s re-election had been greeted with reactions, with members of the party taking sides.
Reacting, Opara said the convention violated the constitution of the party as it was done in secrecy.
“It was a gathering of Abure’s support group. Was there a political convention? Where on earth did you ever hear that a convention is held in secrecy? There was never a convention. It was a support group that came together to think or plan for the way forward of whatever the support group was building,” she said.
But in a swift reaction, the national publicity secretary of the party, Obiora Ifoh, said since the convention had successfully been held, Labour Party is going to focus on resolving individual differences in the party.
He called on the leadership of the party and the aggrieved members to reshape their thoughts and work with the newly elected chairman, noting that the convention was done in line with the provision of the party’s rules, electoral laws and the constitution.
“We don’t have any fear. We have finished our convention and now we are not going to engage anybody except to find a way to resolve whatever differences that we have,” he said.