In a decisive move, the Board of Trustees (BoT) of the Labour Party has announced its intervention to take charge of the party’s operations following a contentious national convention held in Nnewi, Anambra State, where Julius Abure was re-elected as the national chairman.
The BoT, led by Chairman Comrade S. O. Z. Ejiofor, declared the convention unrecognized and asserted its authority to prevent a leadership void within the party.
This development comes on the heels of the convention’s dispute and the expiration of the tenure of the party’s previous National Working Committee led by Abure. The BoT’s statement highlighted their commitment to upholding the party’s constitution and the need for an orderly transition to new leadership.
In pursuit of a fair and broad-based leadership selection process, the BoT announced plans to organize an “all-inclusive and expansive National Convention” in compliance with a Federal High Court consent judgment from March 20, 2018. This judgment affirmed the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) as the party’s owner and called for a convention that would encompass a wider range of party stakeholders.
The move also follows a prior agreement reached on June 27, 2022, between Abure, the NLC, and the Trade Union Congress (TUC), brokered by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), aimed at ensuring party unity and democratic processes.
The BoT expressed gratitude towards party members, including workers, students, youth, market women and men, and the “Obidients” for their ongoing support and adherence to the party’s principles. It pledged to initiate a transparent and inclusive process for the national convention, starting from grassroots levels up to the national stage, ensuring participation across the board and oversight by INEC, media, civil society, security agencies, and the public.
In a rebuke of the Nnewi convention’s proceedings, the BoT lauded the Labour Party leader, Mr. Peter Obi, and other key stakeholders for their principled stance against what they termed a “malfeasance.”
The board’s intervention marks a critical juncture for the Labour Party, promising a path toward unity and rejuvenation with the aim of achieving socio-political transformation for Nigeria and its people.
