NLC rejects Abure’s re-election as LP national chairman, says it's a nullity

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The Nigeria Labour Congress has rejected the reelection of Julius Abure as the Labour Party National Chairman, saying it would not accord any recognition.

Abure was reelected as the party national chairman at a national convention of the party held in Nnewi, Anambra State, on Wednesday. The convention was initially slated to be held at Abia State, but was changed to Anambra State, home state of its presidential candidate in the 2023 election, Mr. Peter Obi.

At the convention, which saw all members of the National Working Committee returned, Peter Obi and the Abia State Governor, Alex Otti, were conspicuously absent, among other state chairmen.

The slots for representatives of both the NLC and the Trade Union Congress were, however, left vacant.

However, the NLC spokesman, Benson Upah, insisted that the congress will never back the party under Abure’s leadership.

Upah dismissed as a nullity the return of Abure as national chairmam, saying, “It’s an illegality, a nullity. The whole exercise was a charade! Nothing can legitimise such brazen impunity.”

At least five persons were reportedly apprehended at the convention ground on Wednesday for allegedly attempting to foment trouble at the arena.

The arrested persons were said to be distributing inciting leaflets critical of the leadership of the party.

They were eventually handed over to the police for questioning.

In a communiqué jointly signed by Abure and his National Secretary, Umar Farouk, the party announced that the presidential flag bearer of LP, Peter Obi, and Abia State Governor, Dr. Alex Otti, have been cleared to contest as the party’s candidates again in 2027.

The statement partly read, “The convention in session, based on the antecedents of the presidential candidate before, during and after the 2023 general election, recommended that the 2027 presidential ticket of the party be solely reserved for His Excellency, Mr. Peter Gregory Obi, the national leader of the party.

“Furthermore, the convention in session reviewed the ongoing development and performance of its Governor in Abia state, His Excellency, Dr. Alex Otti, and passed a vote of confidence on him and recommended the 2027 Abia State gubernatorial ticket of the party be reserved for His Excellency, Dr. Alex Otti.”

Continuing, the leadership of the party called on President Bola Tinubu to address the rising cases of insecurity ravaging, particularly Kaduna and some other northern states.

The party also threw its weight behind the restructuring and decentralisation of policing architecture to pave the way for regional, state, and local police.

“The convention in session also noted with concerns the renewed insecurity in the country, especially Kaduna, Plateau, Benue, and other states. The convention hereby calls on the President as the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces to secure the lives and properties of Nigerians, which is the primary responsibility of the government.

“We also call for general restructuring of the security architecture to meet up with current security challenges facing the nation. The convention advocated for decentralisation of the Nigerian Police Force to pave the way for regional, state, local, and community policing,” it stated.