The Labour Party, LP, has warned the Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, against attempting to remove the Julius Abure-led National Working Committee, NWC, stating that the union lacks the authority to take such action.
In a statement signed by the National Publicity Secretary, Obiora Ifoh, the LP described the stakeholders’ meeting convened by the NLC as an illegal assembly comprising a few disgruntled former members and some individuals not recognized as card-carrying members of the party.
According to the statement, the NLC’s Political Commission is a front for Comrade Joe Ajaero, designed to further his political ambitions for 2027.
The group, according to the statement, has been instructed by Ajaero to sow discord within the Labour Party by presenting itself as a platform for dissidents who recently lost a leadership battle in court.
The statement reads, “The Political Commission of the NLC is a front for Comrade Joe Ajaero, which he has empowered for the purpose of his political ambitions come 2027.
“The group is unknown to the Labour Party and as such, lacks the powers to convene a meeting of ‘stakeholders’ to deliberate, let alone take any decision which will have a binding effect on a legally constituted party leadership.
“The group has been mandated by Ajaero to ensure that the crisis in the Labour Party festers ahead of 2027 by presenting itself as a rallying ground for dissident former members of our party, who recently lost the leadership battle in the courts.
“We are also not unmindful of the political pact the leadership of the NLC has gone into with the current All Progressives Congress-led Federal Government to destabilize the opposition.
“This explains why in quick succession all their plots to hijack the party leadership failed. First, it was by illegal picketing of the party when that failed, it attempted to introduce and inaugurate a non-existing Board of Trustees that also failed. Again, the attempted plot to take over the party using stakeholder meetings comprising former members, social media tigers and non-members will again fall like a pack of cards.
“It is pertinent to add that Nigerians are suffering under the harsh economic conditions of the current government.
“Workers and the downtrodden are at the receiving end. As we speak, there are unfair workers’ practices perpetuated by employers but the Nigerian Labour Congress has failed to take proactive roles in order to fight for the rights of workers.
“We want to remind Comrade Joe Ajaero that he has a lot of work to do for the Nigerian workers which he is abdicating to face politics.
“This is why we previously advised that he should first resign as NLC President if he wants to join politics.”
The Labour Party also stated that decisions made at the stakeholders’ meeting convened by the NLC are null, void, and of no effect, as they lack legitimacy.
It reiterated its support for the Abure-led NWC, pointing out the party’s successes in the 2023 general elections and its contributions to the political landscape of Nigeria.
The statement called on Ajaero to focus on his role as President of the NLC and address the challenges facing Nigerian workers, rather than pursuing political ambitions.
The Labour Party expressed its commitment to rebuilding the party and urged genuine party members to join hands in achieving this goal.
The party concluded by stating its readiness to seek legal redress if necessary, while appealing to its supporters to remain calm, as justice will ultimately prevail.
Labour Party’s response is coming on the heels of Monday’s resolution taken by the NLC Political Commission at a stakeholders meeting in Abuja.
In the communiqué released after the gathering, the unionists voided the national convention that returned Abure and his NWC members to office.
The stakeholders said the congress would set up a transition committee to oversee the party’s affairs pending when new officers will be elected in three months to fill the vacuum.
NLC’s resolution also raised concerns about the need to conduct a forensic audit of the LP bank accounts in line with the demand of its presidential candidate, Peter Obi, following allegations of corruption, forgery and fraud leveled against the party leadership.
