By George Ozalla
One of the major opposition political parties in Nigeria, Labour Party is set to reposition the party for greater political leadership presence across the nation.
In a well attended Stakeholders’ meeting held in Abuja on Monday 8th. April, 2024 at Wizzy AGLN Event Center Gudu District, Abuja the organizers of the meeting NLC Political Commission chaired by Professor Theophilus Ndubuaku stated that it was borne out of patriotic zeal to respond to patriotic call following the ruling and orders of court and for the urgent need to rescue Labour Party from the hands of the embattled former Chairman of the Party; Barrister Julius Abure and some of others who had turned the party into a theatre of war and political diatribe by his seemingly above the law posture.
Many speakers at the event accused Abure of mind blowing corrupt practices, perjury, impersonation, forgery, betrayal and high-handedness in conducting the affairs of the party, they insisted that they totally align their collective positions with the INEC’s non-recognition of Abure’s kangaroo National Convention of Labour Party recently held at Nnewi, Anambra State despite various consolidated court orders and judgements restraining Abure from parading himself as the National Chairman of the Labour Party.
They described it as desperation of the highest order and act of horrible and condemnable illegality which was capable of deepening crisis in Labour Party and therefore, has voided the return of the National Chairman of Labour Party, Julius Abure and his National Working Committee at a national convention recently held in Nnewi, Anambra state.
In a communique issued at the end of the NLC Political Commission Stakeholders meeting, the Congress passed vote of no-confidence on the purported convention and the leadership that emerged from it.
The communique, made released to newsmen after the meeting, was signed by Prof. Theophilus Ndubuaku, Chairman, NLC Political Commission, Mr Abdulwahed Omar, former President, NLC, Mr S.O.Z. Ejiofor, Chairman, Board of Trustees, Labour Party, among others.
According to the communiqué, NLC approved the constitution of a Transition Committee under the leadership of the NLC Political Commission to manage the affairs of the party on temporary basis.
The stakeholders resolved that the Transition Committee should conduct the affairs of the party pending the conduct of an all-inclusive and expansive National Convention.
They also noted that, once constituted, the transition committee should completely take over the secretariats of the Party across the country.
Part of the resolution read as follows:
“That the Transition Committee shall immediately set up an assets recovery process of all the properties of the Labour Party.
“The Transition Committee shall also ensure that all the cases of fraud, impersonation and forgery of government documents pending against a few discredited former officers of the Labour Party are forensically audited.
“It should ensure that the culprits are diligently prosecuted as demanded by leader of the Labour Party– Mr. Peter Obi.
” It is unfortunate that the actions of these few dishonourable characters have splashed mud on the white satin of Labour Party,” the stakeholders stated.
They held that that the Transition Committee should, within three months of its constitution ensure the conduct of an inclusive national convention of the Party.
They also maintained that the process should start from ward congresses to local government congresses to state congresses culminating in an all-inclusive and expansive National Convention in Abuja.
“In pursuant to the foregoing, the Transition Committee is mandated by the stakeholders meeting to begin the process of revalidation of current members of the Labour Party.
“Also the registration of new members through the issuance of new membership cards and receipt of membership dues for the purpose of the conduct of an all-inclusive and expansive national convention of the Labour Party.
“It is expected that this mobilisation drive will yield in the first instance a total membership strength of 10 million,” they held.
The stakeholders said, with the communiqué, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and all the relevant security organisations in Nigeria were hereby notified of the new development in the party.
They agreed that INEC, others should be officially written immediately to recognise the Transition Committee as the interim leadership of the Labour Party.
They reiterated that Labour Party is a party for all Nigerians regardless of ethnic, religious, regional, social and economic orientation or status amongst others!
Some of the dignitaries and Labour Party faithfuls that attended and spoke during the Stakeholders’ meeting included; Comrade Eze Oko Splendor, Labour Party Governorship Candidate, Ebonyi State, Senator Victor Lar, Engr. Anselm Eragbe, National Youth Leader: Labour Party, Mrs. Oluchi Opara; National Treasurer Labour Party, Mrs. Ebere Umeh, Dr. Kingsley Okundaye: National Co-ordinator, Labour Party Patriotic Congress, Nze Akujobi Ikechukwu Cyril, Chief Folu Bademosi, Dr. Luka M. Ayuba, Hon. Jonathan Asake, Chief Chidozie Ezeugwa, Dr Ifedi Okwenna and Bar. Dennis Habile G and a host of others.
