The Julius Abure-led National Working Committee (NWC) of the Labour Party (LP) has dismissed threats of a leadership takeover by a group of members led by Comrade SOZ Ejiofor, purportedly acting for the LP’s Board of Trustees.
National Publicity Secretary of the LP, Obiora Ifoh, said in a statement in Abuja on Thursday that the party wasn’t aware of the existence of a BoT because the body was yet to be constituted.
According to him, the Labour Party on Wednesday successfully conducted its national convention in Nnewi, Anambra State, and Barrister Julius Abure was unanimously elected by over 350 delegates that were in attendance.
He said, “The attendance list includes: the Governor of Abia State, Dr. Alex Otti, who was represented by his deputy, Ikechukwu Emetu; the Deputy Minority Whip of the House of Representatives, Hon. George Ozodinobi, who led over 10 members of the National Assembly; the entire members of the Abia State House of Assembly, led by the Speaker, Hon. Emmanuel Emeruwa; the Deputy Minority Leader of the Imo State House of Assembly, Hon. Clinton Amadi; other of his colleagues in the Imo State House of Assembly; other members of the state assembly from Enugu; the entire members of the Abia State, amongst others.
“Despite this huge success, it came to the leadership of the party as a huge surprise of a statement trending in the social media purportedly from one Comrade SOZ Ejiofor on behalf of the Board of Trustees of the party claiming that he has taken over the leadership of the party.
“Amusing as that will sound, but with the greatest respect to the former leader of the party, we sympathise with the Comrade who has since left the political scene more than a decade ago only to be energised, briefed, and drafted into this unnecessary tussle by the disgruntled elements in the Nigerian Labour Congress, NLC.
“First, ever since Ejiofor stepped down as the first National chairman of the Labour Party over two decades ago, he has neither attended any meetings nor played any noticeable role as a member of the party.
“He is not even known in his ward and has not paid a single dime as membership dues, which qualifies him as a member. It is surprising therefore that after he was ‘visited’ by some leaders of the NLC, he suddenly woke up from his slumber.”
Ifoh further said that “The point here is that the Labour Party is not aware of the existence of any Board of Trustees.
“Recall that NLC has continued to propose for the reconstitution of the BoT as well as the convocation of the National Convention.
“Over 90 per cent of persons being suggested to form membership of the proposed BoT have since left the party to join other political parties; some even contested various political positions on the platforms of other political parties, while others featured prominently in the presidential campaigns of the other political parties, even when Labour Party equally featured a candidate in the 2023 general election.
“This is what desperation in the ranks of the NLC can cause. Why not let the man enjoy his retirement? Why drag him into your mess?
“Let Comrade Ejiofor show evidence of one meeting he convened in the last one decade of his so-called BoT.
“Enough of all this political muscle flexing, Barrister Julius Abure has just been elected by the convention for the first time as the National Chairman of the Labour Party. We urge our detractors to please sheathe the sword and join us to salvage the nation.
“Article 77.—(1) of the Electoral Act states that a political party registered under this Act shall be a body corporate with perpetual succession and a common seal and may sue and be sued in its corporate name.
“It therefore means that the Labour Party is a body different from the body that founded it.
“The NLC should no longer be under any illusion that it owns the Labour Party. Labour Party is not a political association; it is a party subscribed by all Nigerians, including workers, non-workers, students amongst others.
“Only people who understand the rules of the party and play by it such as carrying party cards and paying membership dues, can have a say on the matters of the party. Incidentally, Comrades Ajaero and Ejiofor are not members and will not be allowed to interfere with the internal matters of the party.”
