LP disowns ‘NLC-energised’ Board of Trustees
...We didn’t monitor programme, says INEC
...Lawmakers defect to PDP
The Labour Party (LP) sank deeper into crisis yesterday as the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) disowned Wednesday’s convention held in Nnewi, Anambra.
It comes a day after the party’s ‘Board of Trustees’ (BoT) announced its takeover.
In Enugu, six LP lawmakers announced their defection to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), citing divisions and internal wrangling.
The LP returned Julius Abure as National Chairman, some national officers were also returned.
But, the ‘BoT’, in a statement by its Chairman Sylvester Ejiofor following the convention, said the takeover followed the “expiration of the tenure of the National Working Committee (NWC) of the party led by Abure.”
The ‘BoT’ said it was taking over to avoid a leadership vacuum, but LP yesterday said it was unaware of the body’s existence.
Chief Press Secretary to INEC Chairman, Rotimi Oyekanmi, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja that the commission was not involved in the Nnewi conference.
According to him, the convention was not monitored by INEC, but he did not say why.
LP National Legal Adviser, Kehinde Edun, said the party duly informed the commission about the change in venue and date.
Section 82(1) of the Electoral Act, 2022 states that political parties shall give INEC at least 21 days’ notice of convention, congress, conference or meeting.
This includes the convention or meeting convened for “merger” and electing members of its executive committees, and other governing bodies or nominating candidates.
On the BoT takeover, the LP, in a statement by its National Publicity Secretary, Obiora Ifoh, said it was unaware of its existence.
It said: “Labour Party on Wednesday successfully conducted its national convention in Nnewi Anambra state and Julius Abure was elected unanimously and overwhelmingly by over 350 delegates that were in attendance.
“The attendant list includes the Governor of Abia State, Dr. Alex Otti who was represented by Deputy Governor Ikechukwu Emetu, the Deputy Minority Whip of the House of Representatives, George Ozodinobi who led over 10 members of the National Assembly, the entire members of the Abia State House of Assembly led by the Speaker, Emmanuel Emeruwa, the Deputy Minority Leader of Imo state House of Assembly, Clinton Amadi led other of his colleagues in the Imo State House of Assembly, other members of the state assembly from Enugu, the entire commissioners and top government officials from Abia, among others.
“Despite this huge success, it came to the leadership of the party as a huge surprise of a statement trending in the social media purportedly from one Comrade S. O. Z Ejiofor on behalf of the BoT of the party claiming that he has taken over the leadership of the party.
“Amusing as that will sound, but with the greatest respect to the former leader of the party, we sympathise with the Comrade who has since left the political scene more than a decade ago only to be energised, briefed and drafted into this unnecessary tussle by the disgruntled elements in the NLC.
“First, ever since Ejiofor stepped down as the first National Chairman of the LP over two decades ago, he has neither attended any meeting nor played any noticeable role as a member of the party.
“He is not even known in his ward and has not paid a single dime as membership dues which qualifies him as a member.
“It is surprising therefore that after he was ‘visited’ by some leaders of NLC, he suddenly woke up from his slumber.
“The point here is that the LP is not aware of the existence of any Board of Trustees.
“NLC has continued to propose for the reconstitution of the BoT as well as the convocation of the National Convention.
“Over 90 per cent of persons being suggested to form membership of the proposed BoT have since left the party to join other political parties.
“Some even contested various political positions on the platform of other political parties while some others featured prominently in the presidential campaigns of the other political parties even when LP equally featured a candidate in the 2023 general election.
“This is what desperation in the ranks of the NLC can cause. Why not let the man enjoy his retirement? Why drag him into your mess? Let Comrade Ejiofor show evidence of one meeting he convened in the last decade of his so-called BoT.”
The party insisted that it remained different from its founder.
The statement added: “Enough of all these political muscle flexing. Julius Abure has just been elected by the convention for the first time as the National Chairman of the LP.
“We urge our detractors to please sheathe the sword and join us to salvage the nation.
“Article 77.—(1) of the Electoral Act states that a political party registered under this Act shall be a body corporate with perpetual succession and a common seal and may sue and be sued in its corporate name.
“It, therefore, means that the LP is a body different from the body that founded it.
“The NLC should no longer be under any illusion that it owns the LP.
“LP is not a political association; it is a party subscribed by all Nigerians, including workers, non-workers, and students, amongst others.
“Only people who understand the rules of the party and play by it such as carrying party cards and paying membership dues can have a say on the matters of the party.
“Incidentally, Comrades Ajaero and Ejiofor are not members and will not be allowed to interfere with the internal matters of the party.”
Six LP lawmakers defect to PDP
The six LP members of the Enugu State House of Assembly attempted to defect last Sunday at an event at Okpara Square, but it was stalled.
During yesterday’s plenary, the lawmakers made their defection known in a letter read by Speaker Uche Ugwu.
The members are: Ejike Nwa Nsukka (Igbo-Eze North 1), Johnson Ugwu (Enugu North), Ms. Princess Ugwu (Enugu South Rural), Pius Onyeka Ezugwu (Nsukka West), Williams T. Amuka (Igbo-Etiti East) and Osita Eze (Oji River).
The Speaker said members left for the PDP due to the “existence of irreconcilable division, incessant crisis within the Labour Party at the national level and across all the state chapters”.
The defection letter added: “Regrettably, the party has evolved into a state of perpetual discord with various factions embroiled in legal battles, thereby undermining its ability to effectively serve the interest of the people.
“The LP, once a beacon of hope for progressive ideas, has regrettably become synonymous with internal squabbles, thereby reducing its capacity to fulfil the aspirations of the electorate.”
The defecting lawmakers cited the Abure and Lamidi Apapa factions as an instance of such divisions within the LP.
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