On Wednesday, the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) orchestrated a dramatic protest at the national secretariat of the Labour Party in Abuja, decrying the party’s forthcoming national convention slated for the end of the month.
The NLC leadership, armed with banners and determined chants, demanded the immediate removal of the party’s National Chairman, Julius Abure, whom they accused of orchestrating a clandestine convention without the involvement of key stakeholders.
This brewing storm over the planned convention has ignited a fierce clash between Abure and both the NLC and the House of Representatives caucus. Workers on the front lines of the protest accused Abure of plotting the demise of the Labour Party, a charge vehemently denied by the party’s leadership.
However, the path to the party’s convention was obstructed as policemen stationed at the secretariat barred the protesting workers from entry.
Adding fuel to the fire, a recent report by PUNCH Online revealed a tug-of-war within the party’s ranks. The National Working Committee of the Labour Party accused Ajaero, a prominent figure within the NLC, of spearheading efforts to unseat Abure and seize control of the party.
The allegations emerged in response to a scathing open letter penned by the Nigeria Labour Congress Political Commission, denouncing Abure and the NWC for their alleged disregard for protocol and transparency in organizing the convention.
The letter called for a nationwide mobilization of workers to picket state secretariats of the Labour Party, citing concerns over the legitimacy and inclusivity of the planned convention.
Amidst this turmoil, the political wing of the NLC categorically rejected the proposed convention, branding it as illegal and demanding Abure’s immediate resignation. They called for the establishment of a caretaker transition committee to oversee a fair and transparent convention process.
However, the leadership of the Labour Party staunchly opposed these demands, alleging ulterior motives behind Ajaero’s push for Abure’s ouster, hinting at ambitions for his own ascent to the party’s top leadership position.