*NLC Rejects Abure’s Return As National Chairman

*Party’s BoT Takes Over Party, Insists Abure’s Tenure Expired

*Abure-led NWC Dismisses Existence Of BoT

THE dust raised by the ‘re-election’ of the National Chairman of the Labour Party (LP), Mr. Julius Abure, at its national convention on Wednesday, March 27 in Nnewi, Anambra State, is far from settling.

The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), which claims ownership of the party, and wants Abure out, has declared the convention a nullity, vowing that Abure would not be recognised.

Instructively, notable members of the party, including its presidential candidate in last year’s general elections, Mr. Peter Obi; his running mate, Senator Datti Baba-Ahmed; and senators elected in its platform- Victor Umeh and Tony Nwoye,- were absent at the convention, which had earlier suffered two postponements and change of venues.

The NLC had accused Abure of “unilaterally trying to hold a national convention in contravention of the constitution of the party.”

In his reaction to the outcome of the convention, NLC spokesman, Benson Upah, said: “It’s an illegality, a nullity. The whole exercise was a charade! Nothing can legitimise such brazen impunity.”

Asked NLC’s next action, Upah responded: “You wait and see.”

    In a new twist to the impasse, its Board of Trustees (BoT), on Thursday, March 28, announcement the take over of the party’s affairs, saying Abure’s tenure had expired.

 In a statement on Wednesday, March 27, Chairman of BoT, Mr. S.O.Z. Ejiofor, said the decision was taken to prevent a leadership vacuum, shortly after the said national convention.

He stated: “Following the expiration of the tenure in office of the immediate past National Working Committee (NWC) of the Labour Party, headed by Mr. Julius Abure, the Board of Trustees (BoT) of the Labour Party, in line with the Labour Party Constitution, has stepped in to steer the affairs of the Labour Party.

“This step is to avoid any leadership vacuum in the Labour Party. Furthermore, the Board of Trustees of the Labour Party, in consultation with major stakeholders in the Party, will soon communicate the processes for the conduct of an all-inclusive and expansive National Convention of the Labour Party.”

    He cited a March 20, 2018, Federal High Court judgment, where Justice Gabriel Kolawole recognised the NLC as the owner of the party and mandated that an all-inclusive and expansive national convention of the party be held.

But the Abure-led NWC was quick to dismiss threats of a leadership takeover by the BoT, with Ifoh saying, in a statement in Abuja on Thursday, March 28, that the party was not aware of the existence of a BoT, because it was yet to be constituted.

Recalling that LP only on Wednesday held its national convention, which he said was well attended, Ifoh added: “Despite this huge success, it came to the leadership of the party as a huge surprise of a statement trending in the social media purportedly from one Comrade SOZ Ejiofor, on behalf of the Board of Trustees of the party, claiming that he has taken over the leadership of the party.

“Amusing as that will sound, but with the greatest respect to the former leader of the party, we sympathise with the comrade, who has since left the political scene more than a decade ago, only to be energised, briefed and drafted into this unnecessary tussle by the disgruntled elements in the NLC.

“First, ever since Ejiofor stepped down as the first national chairman of the Labour Party over two decades ago, he has neither attended any meetings nor played any noticeable role as a member of the party. He is not even known in his ward and has not paid a single dime as membership dues, which qualifies him as a member.

“It is surprising, therefore, that after he was ‘visited’ by some leaders of the NLC, he suddenly woke up from his slumber. The point here is that the Labour Party is not aware of the existence of any Board of Trustees.

“Recall that NLC has continued to propose for the reconstitution of the BoT, as well as the convocation of the national convention. Over 90 per cent of persons being suggested to form membership of the proposed BoT have since left the party to join other political parties; some even contested various political positions on the platforms of other political parties, while others featured prominently in the presidential campaigns of the other political parties, even when Labour Party equally featured a candidate in the 2023 general election.

“This is what desperation in the ranks of the NLC can cause. Why not let the man enjoy his retirement? Why drag him into your mess? Let Comrade Ejiofor show evidence of one meeting he convened in the last one decade of his so-called BoT.

    “Enough of all this political muscle flexing, Abure has just been elected by the convention for the first time as the national chairman of the Labour Party. We urge our detractors to please sheathe the sword and join us to salvage the nation.

    “Article 77-(1) of the Electoral Act states that a political party registered under this Act shall be a body corporate with perpetual succession and a common seal and may sue and be sued in its corporate name. It, therefore, means that the Labour Party is a body different from the body that founded it.

    “The NLC should no longer be under any illusion that it owns the Labour Party. Labour Party is not a political association; it is a party subscribed by all Nigerians, including workers, non-workers, students, among others.

“Only people who understand the rules of the party and play by it, such as carrying party cards and paying membership dues, can have a say on the matters of the party.

“Incidentally, Ajaero and Ejiofor are not members and will not be allowed to interfere with the internal matters of the party.”

Meanwhile, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has disowned the convention and its outcome.

The Chief Press Secretary to the INEC Chairman, Rotimi Oyekanmi, said in Abuja on Thursday that the electoral body did not monitor the conduct of the convention, even as he declined to state reasons for the action.

The LP on Tuesday, March 26, shifted the convention from Umuahia in Abia to Nnewi, Anambra State.

Speaking on the change in venue, its National Legal Adviser, Kehinde Edun, told journalists that the party had duly informed INEC about the change in venue and date, saying: “In fact, Umuahia was not even the first venue we chose. Benin City 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.”

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, including convention or meeting convened for the purpose of “merger” and electing members of its executive committees, other governing bodies or nominating candidates.