Labour Party in Turmoil: BoT Rejects Abure, Assumes Control of Party Affairs

The Labour Party’s Board of Trustees (BoT) has seized control of the party’s affairs following the expiration of Julius Abure’s tenure as the head of the National Working Committee (NWC). This decision comes on the heels of a clandestine national convention held in Nnewi, Anambra State, which the BoT condemned as a sham.

Chairman of the BoT, Comrade S.O.Z. Ejiofor, expressed dismay over the secret convention, emphasizing the need for adherence to the party’s constitution and past judicial rulings. The BoT intends to organize an all-inclusive National Convention in line with court orders and previous agreements with stakeholders.

The controversial convention saw Abure’s reelection as National Chairman, along with other NWC members, amidst accusations of illegitimacy and financial mismanagement by the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC). Despite the absence of key figures like Peter Obi and Alex Otti, the convention declared its presidential and gubernatorial candidates for the 2027 elections.

Reacting to Abure’s reelection, NLC spokesperson Benson Upah denounced the process as illegal, echoing sentiments of factional chairman Peter Okoye, who dismissed the convention as a farce due to the absence of key stakeholders and lack of transparent electoral processes.

With tensions running high and accusations of impropriety looming large, the Labour Party finds itself at a crossroads, grappling with internal strife as it seeks to uphold democratic principles and regain credibility in the eyes of the public.