The Julius Abure led National Working Committee (NWC) of the Labour Party (LL) have vowed to go ahead with it’s planned National Convention scheduled to hold on Wednesday March 24th, 2024 in Nnewi Anambra State.
This is coming on the back of the ongoing leadership crisis between Julius Abure and Joe Ajaero’s leadership of the Nigerian Labour Congress. The two, it was reported have been at each others neck over the ownership and leadership of the Labour party.
In an interview on Monday, the acting National Publicity Secretary of the Party, Obiora Ifoh confirmed that preparations are in top gear to ensure a smooth and successful convention.
During the interview, he dismissed rumours of missing delegates list.
Ifoh said, “Arrangements for a successful convention are in top gear. As I speak to you, Nnewi the venue of our national convention is agog with our preparations.
“Our delegates’ list is intact. The delegates have been informed and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), has the list. The commission is the statutory body empowered to supervise the conduct of the exercise.”
Speaking further on the delegates’ list, he said, “We are expecting seven (7), delegates from each of the 36 states of the federation including the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), all elected members of the party in the Senate and House of Representatives as well as State Houses of Assembly, LP Commissioners and members of the National Working Committee among others.”
Ifoh allayed fears of a dispute with LP caucus of the House of Representatives led by Hon. Afam Ogene, he stated that the Labour Party is one united family.
The continued silence of the party’s presidential candidate in the 2023 general elections have been a source of worry to many as feelers in some quarters claim that Mr. Obi is in support of the NLC led faction of the party.
Recall that the leadership of the NLC had ordered its members to picket Labour Party Offices nationwide and demand for the ouster of Abure as national chairman.
They are also demanding that a caretaker or interim management committee be set up to run the party’s affairs preparatory to an all-inclusive national convention.
In Abuja, NLC leaders stormed the party headquarters last week to protest Abure’s continued stay in office after allegations of financial impropriety leveled against him by the party’s earstwhile National Treasurer, Ms. Oluchi Opara.
Opara had accused the party chairman of mismanaging N3.5 billion out of funds realised from the sale of nomination forms for the 2023 general elections as well as donations from Nigerians at home and abroad.
A charge Abure has since denied. He dismissed the charge as an attempt by enemies of the party to reverse the gains made during and immediately after the 2024 elections.