NLC opposes Abure’s move to conduct LP convention

The Transition Committee set up by the Nigeria Labour Congress to oversee the national and state congresses of the Labour Party has described plans by the embattled National Chairman of the party, Julius Abure, to hold a separate convention as disobedience to a court order.

The transition committee warned members of the party not to participate in the planned congress by Abure.

The Chairman, Sub-committee on Media & Publicity, Tony Akeni, disclosed this in a statement made available to The PUNCH on Monday.

The NLC has been pushing to remove Abure as the LP National Chairman, declaring a convention that returned him as the party’s chairman as illegal.

The action had compelled the NLC Political Commission to void the new leadership and set up a transition committee, saddled with the task of engaging stakeholders of the party to conduct a fresh convention in 90 days.

The Transition Committee Chairman, Comrade Abdulwaheed Omar, had disclosed that following the resolution of the stakeholders meeting on May 8, the NTC would unveil plans for the party’s national convention.

Reacting to the call for a fresh congress by the Abure’s faction, Akeni said the call was illegal and in violation of the constitutional regulations of political parties in Nigeria.

He said, “Julius Abure and his INEC discredited Nnewi convention in Anambra, Imo, Edo, Rivers, Akwa Ibom, Sokoto, Ondo, Kaduna, Adamawa and other states are acts of broad-day fraud, disobedience to an irrevocable court judgment, the Nigeria Electoral Act, the Independent National Electoral Commission and the Nigeria constitution which established and regulates the affairs of political parties.

“Consequently, the Labour Party National Transition Committee hereby warns members of the general public who have bought or intend to buy Abure’s illegal congress forms, shall be doing so at their own risk and in vain.”

While alleging plans by some political parties to strangulate the LP, Akeni noted that the party would not hesitate to take action against violators and participants of the Abure’s congress.

“The well-defined blueprint between the Julius Abure Nnewi junta and their infiltrators from the two giant parties on the road to 2027 is to castrate, emasculate and ruin the Labour Party to its foundation as Nigeria’s most formidable opposition alternative, disarm the party from being Nigerian masses’ last hope and escape from state capture and the captivity of widespread electorate poverty.

“To avoid dire consequences, the National Transition Committee of the Labour Party hereby calls on Barr. Julius Abure, his Nnewi cabinet, intending congress aspirants and those who support the playbook of their divisive sponsors against the progress of our party through Abure’s current expedition of rogue congresses to desist in their interest.

“There shall be severe consequences for violators, organizers and participants alike. Therefore, do not participate in their foul play but wait for the lawful timetable of our party for state congresses and National Convention which the Labour Party National Transition Committee shall roll out and announce soon,” Akeni concluded.