Labour Party Holds Ground For Convention Despite NLC Strife

Labour Party leadership stands firm on national convention despite tensions.
Party petitions government against alleged aggression from Nigeria Labour Congress.
LP convention plans remain uncertain amidst peace efforts and conflicting reports.

EKO HOT BLOG reports that the leadership of the Labour Party has reaffirmed its decision to proceed with its national convention on Wednesday, despite recent tensions.

This stance follows the party’s formal petition to government institutions seeking intervention against perceived aggression from the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC).

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In letters addressed to key officials including the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, the Attorney General of the Federation, the Ministry of Labour and Employment, and the Registrar of Trade Unions, the party urged for protective measures and disciplinary actions against NLC President Joe Ajaero and other union leaders allegedly involved in vandalizing party properties.

Last Wednesday’s events saw an escalation in the conflict over party control, as NLC members, acting on directives from their leadership, picketed LP secretariats nationwide.

The move was to press home their demand for Abure’s resignation.

The protesting workers had laid siege to LP national headquarters in Abuja chanting solidarity songs and demanding Abure’s resignation.

They were however prevented from gaining access to the party secretariat by security operatives posted to the area to maintain order.

But 24 hours after the invasion, the embattled chairman released a press statement claiming the union members broke into their offices, vandalised properties worth millions of naira and made away with some staff salaries.

On Saturday, news filtered in that the Presidential Candidate of LP, Peter Obi, had been frantically making efforts to broker peace between both camps.

Obi was also said to have advised the party to shift the national convention to a later date until a lasting solution is sought.

But the party backtracked on Sunday and insisted there was no going back on its planned convention.

In an exclusive phone chat, the National Publicity Secretary of the LP, Obiora Ifoh, told our correspondent that Abure, the National Working Committee of the party and delegates would gather in Umuahia, Abia State capital.

He said, “Who told you we have cancelled the convention? That is not true. Anything that didn’t come from me or the chairman is not from the party. There is no going back.

“If not that, tomorrow is the usual ‘sit-at-home’ exercise (in the East), delegates will start arriving from tomorrow. But from Tuesday, all of us will assemble in Umuahia for the convention.”

Reacting, the NLC spokesman, Benson Upah, fumed, saying Abure would not dare the congress by going ahead with the planned convention.

Upah also warned that any conference or convention held under the leadership of the embattled chairman would amount to a jamboree in futility.