Nigerians will witness a new dimension in the crisis rocking the Labour Party in the coming weeks.
This is as the faction of the party recognized by its presidential candidate in the 2023 election, Mr Peter Obi, has ordered an immediate opening of a new national secretariat of the party.
NATIONAL POST reports that this formed part of the communique issued after a meeting convened in Abuja on Wednesday under the National Executive Council, NEC.
Similarly, the National President of the Nigerian Labour Congress, Comrade Joe Ajaero announced that a fresh directive has been given to union leaders to begin the process of mobilising their members in readiness to take over the 36 secretariats and national headquarters of the Labour Party in Abuja.
He confirmed this during Wednesday’s emergency meeting of the LP NEC.
At the meeting were Abia Governor, Dr. Alex Otti, (represented); Engr. Ikechukwu Emetu the Deputy Governor of Abia State (represented); Comrade Joe Ajero, NLC President; Barr Emmanuel Ugboaja, the NLC General Secretary; NLC Women Commission Chairperson; Comrade SOZ Ejiofor, the BoT Chairman and Comrade Salisu Mohammed, BoT Secretary.
Others were the TUC President (represented); TUC Secretary General (represented); TUC Women Commission Chairperson; Senator Esther Nenadi Usman and Mr Peter Obi, (represented).
In the communique obtained by NATIONAL POST, the Obi-backed LP faction apart from ordering takeover of secretariats, approved the expansion of the NWC members.
“NEC approved the expansion of the National Working Committee (NWC) structures and processes leading to the conduct of the All Inclusive And Expansive National Convention within 90 days to include:
“Appointment of three (3) Deputy National Chairmen to Deputize the National Chairman, Senator Nenadi Esther Usman.
“Appointment of three (3) Deputy National Secretaries to Deputize the National Secretary, Senator Darlington Nwokocha.
“Appointment of National Working Committee (NWC) members to fill vacancies in the National Working Committee (NWC).
“Formation of Standing and Ad-hoc Committees and membership.
“NEC approved to open the New Labour Party (LP) National Secretariat in Abuja, FCT, immediately and to thereafter:
“Commence the immediate nationwide national mobilization of Ten million (10,000,000) members into the party data base within thirty (30) days;
“NEC approved the commencement of Processes leading to the conduct of the All Inclusive And Expansive National Convention within 90 days.”
It said these would include ward, local government, state congresses, delegates election and “all inclusive and expansive National Convention 2025.”
Meanwhile, the Julius Abure-led NWC of LP has dismissed the looming threat.
National Publicity Secretary of LP under Abure, Obiora Ifoh, dismissed the threat, even as he described the NEC meeting as ‘illegal’.
He said, “The threat is nothing new. We are used to their rascality. Ajaero is sounding like a broken record over his resolve to invade unannounced the national and state secretariats of the Labour Party, with his armies, to take over the party forcefully.”