AUSTIN OBOH
The troubles in the Labour Party (LP) are far from being resolved despite successfully holding its national convention in Nnewi, Anambra State, on Wednesday. The opposition against the present leadership of the party under Julius Abure is the National Labour Congress (NLC) led by Joe Ajaero, which claims to own the party. The NLC had resisted the scheduled Anambra convention and had gone on a protest in all the LP offices nationwide to register its opposition. However, the convention was held and Abure returned as the party’s national chairman. The dispute appears to have now intensified with the BoT of the party also rejecting the convention and its outcome.
Delegates to the national convention of the LP reelected Abure and some party officials for another four-year tenure. Ahead of the convention, the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) had picketed state offices of Labour Party and the national secretariat to protest what it alleged was the high handedness and lack of transparency by the Abure-led National Executive Committee (NEC) of the party.
The NLC members accused the Labour Party’s national chairman of running the party like a mafia organisation. As a result, the congress passed a vote of no confidence in Abure’s leadership and called for his resignation.
NLC President, Joe Ajaero, said the party was formed to allow ordinary Nigerians to contest and win elections, adding that even Peter Obi, who was the party’s standard-bearer, does not belong to any labour union.
“Within that time when Adams Oshiomhole was contesting for governorship, the Labour Party aligned with those that formed the APC, AD, the ACN then to sponsor Adams for him to have a joint ticket and it wasn’t a crime if the Labour Party decides to form an alliance with the other political parties.
“Thereafter, we changed and decided to have our political party and today we’re not in alliance with any political party. And we don’t have an apology for forming a political party that would be beneficial to all the ordinary Nigerians …all the members of the Labour Party are not workers.
“They’re not members of trade unions. People in the National Assembly and even the Presidency are not members of trade unions. The presidential candidate of the Labour Party is not in any way related to any Labour union.
“Any Nigerian that wants to belong to the Labour Party is free. The reason we formed the Labour Party is that Nigerian workers under the minimum wage cannot buy form and contest elections under any of the political parties, be it APC or PDP.
“That’s why we say we must have our own political party where a messenger, clerk can contest elections and win. Even okada riders are in the National Assembly today through the Labour Party. If anybody is having any doubt about it, the aim of forming the LP has been achieved,” he said.
COMMUNIQUE FROM THE CONVENTION
But in a communique at the end of its national convention, the party also assured “its numerous members across the country of an optimistic and bright future.”
They showed appreciation to all forums, groups, and others for the steadfast support the party received in the 2023 general election and after.
“Now that elections are over, the convention in session encourages all groups to collapse their structure at the ward, local, and national levels into the already existing structure of the party.”
In the document, which was signed by Abure and the National Secretary, Umar Farouk, the party further reserved the 2027 presidential ticket of the party for Peter Obi, who was its flag bearer in the 2023 presidential poll.
It said this is so because of his antecedents “before, during, and after the 2023 general election.”
This is as the gathering passed a vote of confidence in Abia State governor, Alex Ottti, for ongoing development in the state.
It equally recommended that the 2027 Abia State gubernatorial ticket of the party be reserved for the governor.
Part of the communique stat¬ed: “The national convention re¬viewed the state of the nation and concluded that it is not grabbing power that matters but what you do with it.
“After the 2023 general elec¬tion, the security situation of the nation has not improved as there is a geometrical increase in num¬bers of lives lost and the economy has worsened as the standard and conditions of living of the Nige¬rian populace has continued to deteriorate.
“Inflation is skyrocketing, un¬employment rate is high, this has led to massive hunger and pover¬ty in the land. This is a result of the continuous devaluation of the currency and increase in petro¬leum product prices.
“The convention is session therefore call on the president and commander-in-chief of the Armed Forces of Nigeria, Pres¬ident Bola Ahmed Tinubu, to quickly take drastic and proactive steps to save the economy from to¬tal collapse to revive the economy and put it on the path of growth and development.
“The convention in session also advises the president to bring up proactive measures that will encourage indigenous producers so that our Gross Domestic Pro¬duction can increase and depen¬dency on foreign products should be discouraged.
“The convention recommends that sound economic team that will take a holistic review of various economic strategies to see how it can be revamped and have citizens enjoy the natural potentials the nation is endowed with and put the country in her rightful place among the comity of nations due to its abundant natural and human resources.
“The convention in session also noted with concerns the renewed insecurity in the coun¬try, especially Kaduna, Plateau, Benue, and other states. The con¬vention hereby calls on the pres¬ident as the commander-in-chief of the armed forces to secure the lives and properties of Nigerians, which is the primary responsibil¬ity of the government.
“The convention also calls for general restructuring of the security architecture to meet current security challenges facing the nation. The convention advocated for decentralisation of the Nigeria Police Force to pave way for regional, state, local and community policing.”
On global security, it called “for an immediate ceasefire and also advises the world powers to proffer an immediate solution to halt the continuous killing of women and children and the destruction of properties.”
It added: “World powers should exercise restraints in the war be¬tween Hamas and Israel, and come to a truce to end the killings and destructions. The convention calls on the United States of America and all those behind the scenes fu¬eling the conflict to come to a truce for a peaceful Middle East.”
This is as it approved the audit¬ed financial report of the party for 2022 to 2023 financial years, and the 2024 annual budget presented.
While empowering the Na¬tional Working Committee (NWC) to fill in vacant positions in the NEC, other officials elected by the gathering included Depu¬ty National Chairman, Clement Ojukwu; Deputy National Chair¬man, Ayo Olunrufemi; Deputy National Chairman (NLC) –va¬cant; Deputy National Chairman (TUC) – vacant, and Deputy Na¬tional Chairman -vacant.
Others are National Vice Chairman (North Central), Abra¬ham Idoko; National Vice Chair¬man (South East), Ceekay Igara; National Vice Chairman (South South), Anthony C. Ezeagwu, and National Secretary, Alhaji Umar Farouk Ibrahim.
It further elected the Depu¬ty National Secretary, Rotimi Kehinde Adekunle; Deputy Na¬tional Secretary, Innocent Okeke; National Treasurer, Mrs. Ngozi Doga; National Financial Secre¬tary, Dayo Ekong; National Pub¬licity Secretary, Mr. Ifoh Obiora; National Organising Secretary, Comrade Yahuza Ahmed; Nation¬al Legal Adviser, Barr. Kehinde Edun; National Women Leader, Mrs. Dudu Manuga; National Youth Leader, Prince Kennedy Ihanotu; Assistant National Youth Leader, NW, Abdulrah¬man Chindo; Assistant National Youth Leader (South South), Bar¬ry Auotu.
Those in attendance at the convention were members of the National Working Committee, National Executive Committee, H.E. Peter Obi, National Leader; Deputy Governor Abia State, Labour Party senators, House of Representatives members, state House of Assembly members, Labour Party commissioners, Labour Party SAs, PAs, and board members, Abia State, party dele¬gates, Trade Union Congress, and gentlemen of the press.
INEC BALKS, BOT STEPS IN
The legitimacy of the convention has now, unfortunately, become questionable after the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) rejected it.
Rotimi Oyekanmi, the Chief Press Secretary to INEC Chairman, told journalists on Thursday that the conduct of the convention was not monitored by INEC, declining to state further why it was not monitored.
Recall that the NLC had written to INEC not to validate the party’s convention earlier scheduled to take place in Abia State.
In a letter to the INEC chairman, Yakubu Mahmood, the NLC through its lawyer, Marshal Abubakar, had said the convention scheduled for 27 March was illegal.
In a separate letter to LP’s national legal adviser, Kehinde Edun, the NLC had threatened that contempt proceedings would be instituted against the party should it go ahead with the convention in disobedience to pending legal disputes.
The labour union accused Abure and a few of his supporters of planning to hold a national convention in Abia State with the support of some staff members of the electoral commission.
The letters referenced the two court decisions in 2024, which, it said, nullified the Julius Abure-led National Working Committee (NWC) of the party.
The order was issued at the instance of the NLC and others who accused Abure of illegally emerging as the leader of the party.
The plaintiffs who filed the suit were the NLC, the Labour Party, Salihu Mohammed, Lawson Osagie, Baba Aye, Ikpe Etokudo, Sylvester Ejiofor, Lucy Ofion, and Salamatu Aliyu. The defendants were Abure and INEC.
“In view of the foregoing, we are compelled to urge you to refrain yourself and properly advise your clients to desist from proceeding with the illegal national convention of the labour party scheduled for March 27, 2024.
“Upon failing, we shall institute contempt proceedings against you and the other defendants and report you to the disciplinary committee of the NBA,” the NLC threatened in the letter to the LP legal adviser.
Drawing the attention of the INEC chairman to the issue, the NLC advised the electoral umpire to restrain its officials “from undermining the due administration of justice and respect for rule of law by attending the illegal convention.”
“…Unless you comply with the foregoing request forthwith, we shall approach the Federal High Court and institute contempt proceedings against you.”
The Court of Appeal in Abuja on March 6 affirmed Abure as the national chairman of the party.
The appellate court in the judgment also voided the judgment of an FCT High Court which had restrained Abure and two others from parading themselves as national officers of the party.
According to reports, the LP had on Tuesday shifted the convention from Umuahia to Nnewi.
Speaking on the change in venue, Kehinde Edun, the LP National Legal Adviser, told newsmen that the party had duly informed INEC about the change in venue and date.
Edun said: “No, it is holding in Anambra, Nnewi to be precise – not Umuahia, in Abia, again. In fact, Umuahia was not even the first venue we chose. Benin was the first choice before we changed to Umuahia and now Nnewi.
“So, we are at liberty to pick any venue of our choice. We only need to inform INEC about the change in venue and the time,” Edun said.
Section 82(1) of the Electoral Act, 2022, states that political parties shall give INEC at least 21 days’ notice of convention, congress, conference or meeting.
This includes the convention or meeting convened for the purpose of “merger” and electing members of its executive committees and other governing bodies or nominating candidates.
INTERNAL CRISIS DEEPENS
In addition to INEC, the organisers of the convention has the Board of Trustees (BoT) of the party to contend with, as the BoT, on Wednesday, stepped in to run the affairs of the party, explaining in a statement by Chairman of the BoT, Comrade S.O.Z. Ejiofor, that the step was to avoid leadership vacuum.
Thus, the BoT ignored Wednesday’s national convention of the party which re-elected Julius Abure as its national chairman for a second term through a unanimous affirmation by delegates.
The convention had been held in the absence of key members of the party, including the party’s presidential candidate in the 2023 general election, Peter Obi; governor of Abia State, Dr Alex Otti, and senators of the party from Anambra State, Victor Umeh and Tony Nwoye.
The BoT said, in consultation with major stakeholders in the party, it would soon communicate the processes for the conduct of an all-inclusive and expansive national convention. It claimed this was in line with the March 20, 2018, Federal High Court consent judgement delivered by Justice Gabriel Kolawole, which recognised the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) as the owners of LP and mandated that an all-inclusive and expansive national convention of the party be held.
The BoT added: “The decision of the Board of Trustees is also in furtherance of the agreement signed between the former National Chairman of the Labour Party, Mr. Julius Abure, and the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC) on 27th June, 2022, which was mediated by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
“While we commend members of the Labour Party, especially workers, students, youths, market women and men, Obidients, and candidates on the platform of the Labour Party, for their contributions and fidelity to the ideals of the party, the Board of Trustees promises to quickly set in motion processes for the conduct of an all-inclusive and expansive national convention.
“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 Labour Party out and will be held in the full view of the Independent National Electoral Commission, media, civil society, security agents and the general public.
“We commend the leader of the Labour Party, Mr. Peter Obi, and key stakeholders in the Labour Party for declining to deodorise the malfeasance that took place in Nnewi with their presence.
“The BOT assures all stakeholders that we are committed to reclaiming and repositioning the Labour Party as the vehicle for the socio-political emancipation of our dear country, her working people and populace.”
Officials of the party, on Thursday, had not reacted to the alleged takeover of the party by the BoT. But a leader of the party, according to a report, dismissed the BoT’s alleged action, saying it was a hatchet job.
“Since many of you journalists have been covering this party, have you heard anything about LP Board of Trustees before? It is non-existent. How can one Sylvester Ejiofor wake up one day, tag himself as BoT chairman, and issue a statement that he has taken over the affairs of the party? Let him come over to the secretariat and take over then.
“Too many people and mercenaries are just bent on causing conflict in the party,” he said.
Given the present development, it is clear that the dispute in the party is going to be a longstanding one that may prove significantly destructive to the party and its political candidates in coming elections. But if the party survives this dispute, as it has survived other disputes in the past, it would most certainly dent its membership profile and political effectiveness.
