Convention of LP to Proceed Despite Abure,NLC Conflict

The Labour Party (LP) national convention, which is set to take place in Nnewi, Anambra State, on Wednesday, March 27th, 2024, and is being spearheaded by Julius Abure, the party’s National Working Committee (NWC).

The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) led by Comrade Joe Ajaero and Abure have been at odds over the party’s ownership and leadership for some time, and this latest development adds fuel to the fire.

In a phone conversation with Vanguard on Monday, Obiora Ifoh, the LP’s acting national publicity secretary, acknowledged that plans “are in full gear to ensure a smooth convention.”

He denied rumours that the list of delegates had disappeared.

“We are in full swing with preparations for the conference,” Ifoh announced. Nnewi, where our national conference will be held, is abuzz with activity as we speak.

That list of our delegates is complete and unaltered. The list is in the possession of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), and the delegates have been notified. The exercise will be overseen by the commission, which is a legislative organisation.

According to him, the list of delegates includes people from all over the country, including elected party members from the Senate and House of Representatives, state assembly houses, LP commissioners, the National Working Committee, and seven delegates from each of the 36 states (including the FCT).

Approximately 300 party members are anticipated to cast ballots at the convention, though the actual number on the delegate list was not accessible when this report was being prepared.

Concerning the resolution of the conflict with Hon. Afam Ogene, leader of the LP caucus in the House of Representatives, he stated, “The Labour Party is one undivided family.”

Let us remember that the NLC leadership had issued a statewide call for members to demonstrate outside Labour Party headquarters, demanding Abure’s resignation as national chairman.

Before an inclusive national convention, they want the party to establish a caretaker or interim management committee to handle day-to-day operations.

Following accusations of financial wrongdoing made against Abure by Ms. Oluchi Opara, the party’s auditor and national treasurer, NLC leaders stormed the party offices last week in Abuja to protest his continued stay in office.

Opara said that the party chairman had embezzled N3.5 billion from the proceeds of the 2023 general election nomination forms and contributions from Nigerians both at home and abroad.

This accusation has been later withdrawn by Abure. He wrote off the accusation as an effort by the party’s detractors to roll back the victories.