The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has instructed its members to prepare for a takeover of Labour Party (LP) offices across the country following a Supreme Court ruling that removed Julius Abure from his position as National Chairman of the party.
In a statement from NLC President Joe Ajaero, the organization urged the LP National Executive Committee (NEC) to appoint an interim leadership that will oversee an inclusive Special National Convention, as mandated by the LP Constitution and the court’s ruling. The statement emphasized that any actions deviating from these constitutional guidelines would undermine the rule of law and be met with strong resistance from Nigerian workers and citizens.
The NLC also called on all Nigerian workers, members of the Labour Party, and patriotic citizens to be vigilant and not tolerate the antics of individuals like Julius Abure, who it claims only seek to create discord under the influence of powerful figures. The Supreme Court is viewed as a crucial institution safeguarding Nigeria’s sovereignty and the rule of law, and the NLC believes that the genuine members of the Labour Party will not allow any disregard for the laws of Nigeria or the Supreme Court’s decisions.
The NLC stressed the importance of active participation in reclaiming Labour Party offices, indicating that the NLC Political Commission and other stakeholders would soon release further instructions. The congress also reminded security agencies, particularly the Nigeria Police Force and the State Security Service, of their constitutional obligations to uphold and enforce the Supreme Court’s ruling.
Additionally, the NLC urged the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to remove all references to Abure and his committee from its records.
In response, the National Publicity Secretary of the LP, Obiora Ifoh, asserted that the NLC has no right to target Labour Party offices since there is no trade dispute involved.
He accused the NLC of becoming politicized and stated that there is no union presence in Labour Party offices, rendering the NLC’s actions illegal. Ifoh warned that the LP would take legal action against Ajaero and his colleagues if they attempted any unlawful interference, and would seek the support of security agencies to protect their operations, while also being prepared to mobilize members nationwide if necessary.
