By Clifford Ndujihe, John Alechenu, Ugochukwu Alaribe & Steve Oko

AN end to the war of attrition among major stakeholders of the Labour Party, LP, seems far from sight.
Peace took flight from the party after its loss in the 2023 presidential poll.

The party, which has the picture of a happy family as its logo, rose to national prominence within a few months to the elections.

It’s fairy-tale rise from relative obscurity was attributed to two major factors. First, Nigerians appeared tired of the way the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC, and its predecessor, the People Democratic Party, PDP, played politics.

Secondly, the youth vigour brought into it by the Obidient Movement inspired by Mr. Peter Obi, its presidential standard bearer, took the party to heights hitherto the subject of dreams.

Once touted as the most visible alternative to the APC and PDP, it is now a shadow of what it was pre-2023 polls.

One party, four camps

Today, Obi and the party’s only Governor, Alex Otti of Abia State, are leading a large number of LP faithful in what they described as a rescue mission.

This group appointed Ex-Finance Minister, Nenadi Usman, as interim chairwoman and former Senate Minority Leader, Darlington Nwokocha, as interim secretary.

Embattled National Chairman of the party, Julius Abure, is leading another group made up of members of the National Working Committee, NWC, who enjoy the support of some state chapter chairmen.

Another group of stakeholders, the Nigeria Labour Congress Political Commission, NLCPC, an offshoot of the Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, has since named Umar Abdulwaheed, as chairman of a Labour Party Transition Committee, to oversee the party’s affairs.

Yet, one Callitus Okafor, who claimed to be a foundation member of the LP has also declared himself as the authentic National Chairman.

Each of the contending forces lay claim to authenticity.

However, as things stand today, the body set up by Obi and Otti, has the support of most if not all elected members of the party in the states and National Assembly, and a majority of other stakeholders.

Umuahia LP meeting illegal, Nenadi not our member – Abure

Meanwhile, Julius Abure, has rejected the Umuahia meeting where Nenadi Usman was appointed as interim chairperson, saying it was unconstitutional.

Mr. Obiora Ifoh, the publicity scribe made this known in a statement.

According to Abure, Otti and others who converged in Umuahia have no power within the party’s constitution, the Electoral Act or the 1999 Constitution as amended to convene any meeting.

“Moreover, expanded stakeholders meeting is not an organ known to the constitution of the
party. Article 11 of our Party Constitution 2024, 2019 and 2009 provides as follows for four levels of party organisations.

“They are: ward, local government area, state and national.

“It also provides that: “The organisational structure at the state level shall also apply to the Federal Capital Territory Abuja, as if it were a state.

“Similarly, Article 12 of the same constitution equally provides that the 12 principal organs of the party are National Convention, National Executive Council, National Working Committee, Board of Trustees and State Congress,’’ he said.

Other organs, he said, are State Executive Council, State Working Committee, Local Government Congress, Local Government Area Council, Local Government Area Working Committee and Ward Congress and Ward Executive Council.

“Therefore the combined reading of the two provision shows clearly that the so called meeting in Umuahia is a charade, a waste of time and resources of Abia People.

“The premise on which Governor Alex Otti called the meeting is not only faulty but mischievous.

“Government business is not transacted verbally but through official communication and correspondences which are done in writing.

“As we speak, there is no communication whatsoever from INEC to the Party as regards any objection to the conduct of the National Convention,’’ he said.

He challenged Otti to produce the official letter addressed to him from INEC on the subject matter, adding that there was no vacuum in the leadership of the party.

He said the national chairman said the caretaker committee set up by the Otti was not known to the constitution of the party.

“We are shocked to note that the so-called chairman of the caretaker committee is not a registered member of the party,” Abure said.

Nenadi Usman not qualified to lead our party – Abia LP chieftain

Speaking in like manner, LP National Vice chairman,South-East, Chief Ceekay Igara, said that Senator Usman was not a member of the party and not qualified to be the national caretaker chairman.

Featuring in a radio programme in Umuahia, Igara, who is the immediate past state chairman of the Labour Party in Abia State, described the extended stakeholders’ meeting of the party which held in Umuahia, as unconstitutional and uncalled for.

He said: “Senator Esther Nenadi Usman is not a member of the party and therefore can never be the national caretaker committee chairman of the party.

“We have made necessary investigations about Senator Nenadi Usman, she has not been paying the monthly dues of the party for over two years now and the constitution stipulated that any member of the Labour Party who failed to pay the party dues for six months is no longer a member of the party.

“I must authoritatively inform you that the Kaduna State Party Chairman and her own Ward Chairman stated unequivocally that she is yet to pay the party dues for two years.”

We’re watching unfolding events – INEC

The Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, is yet to make a pronouncement as to which of the factions it was ready to do business with after it refused to invite Abure to its last interface with leaders of political parties.

However, a top official of the commission told Vanguard, that the INEC was watching the unfolding scenario and would come out with a categorical statement soon.

Asked which of the four camps is recognised by the INEC, the source, who spoke off record, said: “We recognise only one Labour Party. Things are unfolding.

“Our hope is that they will resolve their differences quickly. To avoid unnecessary legal issues, INEC will look at the unfolding issues critically, find out if there are court orders and take a position. But sincerely hope LP leaders will iron out their differences.”

Why Obi won’t leave LP – Umeh

Meanwhile, Senator Victor Umeh representing Anambra Central, has said that those wooing Mr Peter Obi to abandon LP for another party in 2027 are “on a wide goose chase.”

The LP chieftain and former National Chairman of the All Progressive Grand Alliance, APGA, who spoke with Vanguard during an extended stakeholders’ meeting of the LP in Umuahia, said Obi got much momentum in 2023 polls because of the platform provided for him by LP, hence, it would not be courteous of him to abandon the party.

He spoke on the heels of speculations that Obi is under pressure to return to the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, where he might be given the ticket to contest against the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC, with the full backing of PDP forces.

Senator Umeh said Obi would rather build and make LP more formidable ahead of 2027 than dump it.
He said: “ Wooing Peter Obi out of Labour Party will not be the right thing because LP gave him the limelight with which Nigerian people embraced him in the last election.

“So, whatever is happening is for him to build on the party and continue to make efforts to advance his interest. Those who are calling on him to abandon Labour Party may be on a wide goose chase”.
Senator Umeh lauded Obi and Governor Otti for their bold step towards repositioning LP by convening the Umuahia stakeholders meeting.

“We are happy that issues affecting the party have been addressed. No organization would like to operate with a leadership that is a suspect or not recognized. We were concerned about how our last National Working Committee, NWC, was not recognized by INEC, and that was why we came to correct things.

“It was obvious that its tenure had elapsed, so, it will be foolhardy for us to continue with them because you cannot build on a faculty foundation.”

Vanguard News