The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) on Wednesday, staged a protest at the national secretariat of the Labour Party in Abuja, opposing the party’s scheduled national convention at the end of the month.
The NLC also called for the removal of the National Chairman of the party, Julius Abure, accusing him of planning to hold a “secret” convention without consulting major stakeholders.
The planned convention has created friction between Abure, the NLC, and the House of Representatives caucus, with workers alleging that Abure aims to undermine the Labour Party.
Police officers prevented the protesting workers from entering the party secretariat.
In response to an open letter from the Nigeria Labour Congress Political Commission, the National Working Committee of the Labour Party accused Ajaero of attempting to replace Abure, highlighting tensions within the party. The letter had raised concerns about plans for a national convention in Umuahia, Abia State’s capital, scheduled for March 27.
“That given the intransigence of the National Chairman of the Labour Party to unilaterally hold a National Convention of the Labour Party, financial rascality and contempt for the leadership of the NLC, the NLC State Councils and State Political Committees should mobilise workers to picket all the State Secretariats of the Labour Party, scheduled for Wednesday, 20th March 2024,” the letter partly read.
The convention was said to be aimed at re-electing Abure as the sole administrator of the Labour Party, with concerns of secrecy surrounding the event.
The political wing of the NLC deemed the planned convention illegal and is demanding the immediate resignation of Abure as the party chairman.
They are also calling for the formation of a caretaker transition committee to organise a legitimate and all-inclusive national convention for the party.
However, the LP leadership opposed the directive, alleging that it was driven by Ajaero’s supposed desire to become the party’s next national chairman.