Mr. Julius Abure has been re-elected as the National Chairman of the Labour Party for a second term, despite facing opposition from the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC). The announcement was made by Mr. Ikechukwu Emetu, the Chairman of the National Convention and Deputy Governor of Abia State, during the party’s national convention in Nnewi, Anambra State.
Abure has been in conflict with the NLC leadership, particularly with Joe Ajaero at the helm. The NLC had previously called for Abure’s resignation as party chairman and the immediate establishment of a caretaker transition committee to oversee a legitimate and all-inclusive national convention for the party.
Workers who were denied entry into the party office on March 20 protested outside, demanding the removal of Abure as Labour Party Chairman due to allegations of financial misconduct. The leadership of different factions within the party criticized the NLC’s endorsement of the LP, highlighting disagreements over the party’s leadership structure.
Former NLC President, Ayuba Wabba, intervened in the crisis, asserting that the Labour Party is accountable to the congress. Wabba emphasized that the party was established by the NLC to serve as a platform for union members to exercise and protect their rights, tracing its origins back to the leadership of Pascal Bafyau and the subsequent name change to the Labour Party under Adams.
The speaker emphasized that the Labour Party was established by the NLC with a specific goal outlined in the NLC Constitution. This goal, as outlined in Article 3 and Item 1, is to advocate for the economic, political, and social rights of Nigerian workers and pensioners.
Furthermore, the speaker highlighted that the Labour Party was initially known as the Party for Social Democracy under the leadership of Pascal Bafyau. It was later renamed the Labour Party under Adams, with S.O.Z. Ejiofor serving as the first chairman before passing the baton to Dan Anyanwu.
The primary purpose of forming the Labour Party, according to the speaker, is to provide a platform for workers, pensioners, and farmers to exercise their rights as stipulated in Section 40 of the Constitution. The party’s establishment and registration were attributed to the NLC, drawing an analogy to building a house, obtaining a C-of-O, and then renting out the property, thereby necessitating a vested interest in its management.
