Last week witnessed a dangerous escalation of the crisis within the Labour Party, LP, as members of the Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, staged protests at the party’s national secretariat and various state offices. This development is closely linked to the internal turmoil that has plagued the party since the conclusion of the 2023 general elections.
Peter Obi, the party’s presidential candidate for the 2023 election, along with his supporters known as Obidients, have reportedly distanced themselves from the party’s National Chairman, Julius Abure, leaving him to face the consequences alone.
The party’s structure has been embroiled in a series of legal battles with Lamidi Apapa, the factional chairman, and Abure has been making headlines due to allegations of financial impropriety and other concerning issues.
Former Anambra Governor, Peter Obi, responded to earlier allegations made by Oluchi Oparah, the party’s national treasurer, accusing Abure of misappropriating N3.5 billion. Oparah also claimed that the Abure-led National Working Committee, NWC, was colluding with the Edo State Government and the opposition Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in preparation for the September 2024 governorship elections.
Furthermore, a letter signed by Comrades Titus Amba and Chris Uyot, the chairman and secretary of the NLC Political Commission, expressed concerns about recurring scandals and pending fraud cases.
Abure has recently faced accusations from various party stakeholders, including the Nigerian Labour Congress, NLC, of running the LP as a “sole administrator.” Dr Theophilus Ndubuaku, the Deputy President of the NLC Political Commission, voiced workers’ grievances against Abure’s leadership style during the occupation of the Labour Party headquarters in Abuja.
The picketing of the party’s headquarters was a direct response to express the discontent of the workers towards Abure’s leadership approach.
The acting General Secretary of NLC, Comrade Bello Ismail, expressed his dissatisfaction with the cost of governorship interest and nomination forms, stating that Abure must go.
In a letter from Comrades Titus Amba and Chris Uyot, the chairman and secretary of NLC Political Commission, Abure was criticized for not upholding the ideology of the Labour Party. The embattled LP Chairman faced further scrutiny over his alleged plan to hold a National Convention without following due processes.
The NWC, led by Abure, was accused of planning to hold the convention in Umuahia, Abia State capital on March 27, a move that was met with resistance from key stakeholders like the House of Reps Caucus and the NLC.
The Nigeria Labour Congress Political Commission also condemned the planned convention in an open letter, demanding Abure’s immediate resignation and emphasizing that any form of illegality within the party would not be tolerated. Stakeholders within the party, including Peter Obi, are reportedly against Abure’s leadership and the rushed convention, preferring more time to select new leaders.
Abure is aware that there is a desire for him to be removed, and his next move to maintain relevance within the party is to impose a chairman on the party.
He expressed his disbelief at discussing conventions when the stakeholders of the party are not even aware. He emphasized that the Labour Party is not Abure’s personal company.
The search for a new chairman has commenced. Obasanjonews24 has learned that Comrade Isaac Balami, a former Deputy National Campaign Manager to Peter Obi/Dati Presidential Campaign from the Northern region, may succeed Abure.
An insider informed Obasanjonews24 that certain party leaders and chieftains have held a meeting and proposed Balami as the next National Chairman of the party.
When contacted, Balami stated that he is “under pressure to run for the chairmanship of the party,” but there are still unresolved issues preventing his declaration.
He mentioned that he is uncertain if the convention will proceed as scheduled due to “forces fighting against the unity and progress of the party.”
READ ALSO: Lagos chapter of Labour Party calls for Abure’s resignation
However, Balami acknowledged the importance of the youth constituency’s request, as they played a significant role in the party’s success in the previous election. He expressed gratitude for their dedication and assured that he will carefully consider their call.
He added that a final decision will be made on the matter within a few hours.
Prior to the 2023 general elections, Balami, a former All Progressives Congress (APC) chieftain, switched to the Labour Party (LP), citing his belief in the party’s ideology and its candidate, Mr. Peter Obi.
Dr. Yunusa Salisu Tanko, Chief Spokesperson for the Labour Party Presidential Campaign Council for the 2023 election, addressed the controversy surrounding the convention. He informed Obasanjonews24 that Abure failed to involve the party’s stakeholders in the planned convention.
“We just want to create a political party that everyone can be proud of,” he stated. a section that will speak for everyone’s interests.
“We possess all the necessary elements to construct the party’s framework. As a party, that is the finest thing that can happen to us.
“A closed convention, as proposed by the Chairman, is not what we desire. Because it is not in our best interests to have an open convention when it is most likely going to be closed.
“A lot of people were unaware that there would be a convention. Like you, I had no idea about the convention. Like everyone else, I saw it in the papers.
This is also what NLC is stating. No one is against any one individual; what matters is that we have a convention in which we can all take pride. Additionally, Peter Obi has stated that everyone should be able to attend the convention.
Tanko responded, “It is not true,” in response to a question about the veracity of a widely circulated allegation claiming that Peter Obi had decided to leave the Labour Party before the 2027 presidential elections. In my opinion, there is nothing comparable to that.
