A showdown is brewing between the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Labour Party (LP) following the Supreme Court's decision to remove Julius Abure as the National Chairman of the party. The NLC, led by President Joe Ajaero, has directed its members to mobilize for a nationwide takeover of Labour Party offices, citing the ruling as a mandate to address what they deem a leadership vacuum within the party.
In a statement, Ajaero emphasized that the LP National Executive Committee (NEC) should appoint an interim leadership to conduct a Special National Convention, in accordance with the party's constitution and a previous consent judgment. The NLC warned that any deviation from this would be an affront to the rule of law, promising to resist any unlawful actions from the Labour Party.
The NLC president criticized the continued presence of Abure in the leadership of the Labour Party, referring to him as a "character" causing damage to the party’s image. Ajaero expressed the determination of Nigerian workers to reclaim what they believe is rightfully theirs.
The NLC also warned security agencies, including the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) and State Security Service (SSS), to ensure that the Supreme Court ruling is enforced, urging them to facilitate the removal of Abure’s insignia from the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) portals.
In response, LP's National Publicity Secretary, Obiora Ifoh, dismissed the NLC’s threat, calling it “pure blackmail” and stressing that the Supreme Court had made no ruling on the tenure of the National Working Committee (NWC) but only clarified the role of the courts in party leadership disputes. He further warned the NLC against attempting to resort to "self-help," accusing Ajaero of misusing union power for political purposes.
As the tension heightens, the nation awaits developments with both sides bracing for a potential legal and political battle.
