The leadership of the Nigeria Labour Congress has vowed not to rest until it unseat Julius Abure as national chairman of the Labour Party.

Disclosing this in an interview with Sunday PUNCH, the NLC spokesman, Benson Upah, said that despite the ‘illegal’ national convention that returned Abure to office, the union would never confer legitimacy or give recognition to his leadership.

He said, “Our position on this matter is clear and has not changed. Abure remains unknown to us. It is not a question of removal. As far as we know, he does not exist.”

The development is coming at a time when a group of retired workers under the aegis of Lagos Assembly of Labour Veterans and Trade Unionists also called for the resignation of the embattled national chairman of the party and the NLC President, Joe Ajaero, over their contentious leadership struggle.


The party’s presidential candidate, Peter Obi, also seems to be at loggerheads with the leadership of the LP over the manner it conducted the convention in Nnewi, Anambra State, despite his plea for wider consultation.

The former Anambra governor had expressed his frustrations at an X (formerly Twitter) Space session organised by Parallel Facts last Friday night.

While explaining his absence at the national convention that got Julius Abure re-elected as the party’s national chairman, Obi told his audience that he didn’t attend the event because the party’s leadership failed to heed his appeal for wider consultation with relevant stakeholders before the exercise.


His speech has since set tongues wagging and further fuelled earlier speculations that the LP presidential candidate may have started shopping for a new platform despite being guaranteed the 2027 ticket at the convention.

But Upah said the issue of whether Obi should stay or leave the party should not be debated, saying the former governor was free to determine his destiny.

According to him, the NLC cannot stand in the way of the presidential candidate should he decide to defect to another political platform.

While describing him as an asset, the spokesman reiterated that the congress would not stand in his way if he chose to leave.

“The right of choice is available to Mr Obi. If he chooses to leave the party, that is his preference. We can’t sit in judgment over him on that. But if he chooses to remain, of course, Peter Obi is an asset any day. I rest my case on that,” he added.

esije:
Should NLC have a political affiliation ?

Igb0sCriminals:
Hehehe

NLC should kukuma turn to political party.

If Obi leaves Labour Party, where next is he taking his bad luck to?

N100 airtime for anybody who will predict this correctly.

DMerciful:
Don't read the headline only, its not what is contained therein

VinnyBaba:


He asked a Valid Question.😏

Since I started following Nigerian Politics in the last 1990's,
I have never seen where NLC left their Constitutional role of Fighting for Workers to getting involved in a roforofo fight with a Political party.🙁😒

Tinibu indeed deserve a Round of Applause! 🤨🙂

ElSudani:
Things fall scatter apart.

They told us they were going to fix Nigeria. They can't even fix themselves.

Igb0sCriminals:
Hehehe

NLC should kukuma turn to political party.

If Obi leaves Labour Party, where next is he taking his badluck to?

N100 airtime for anybody who will predict this correctly.

tuoyoojo:
I dont not see political parties as a do or die affair. It is only a political tool or vehicle go get to one's destination

L.P was virtually unknown in the 2023 presidential race until Peter obi came into their fold.

What people need is dividend of good governance not party affiliations.

Zulum was in APC and did very well in his first tenure despite most of his contemporaries failing, Makinde in PDP did well in his first tenure and is currently doing well. The guy in Abia had previously ran under APC but got his ticket now thru LP and is obviously working. So party affliction is nothing

Unfortunately, voters don't determine the winners in elections, the people that count votes does.

What is my concern is can you really trust the present inec

slivertongue:
if he chooses to remain, of course, Peter Obi is an asset any day.

Igb0sCriminals:
Hehehe

NLC should kukuma turn to political party.

If Obi leaves Labour Party, where next is he taking his badluck to?

N100 airtime for anybody who will predict this correctly.

ElSudani:
Things fall apart.

They told us they were going to fix Nigeria. They can't even fix themselves.

VinnyBaba:


Hehehe.

Druggie tinibu Pon the beat.🙂

He has finally DESTROYED NLC and other supposedly Independent institutions.

The Man Sabi Politics Sha, I have to say.🤨

He uses TRIBALISM, PROPAGANDA, BRIBERY, RELIGION and most especially, LIES as his weapons.😊🙂

VinnyBaba:


He asked a Valid Question.😏

Since I started following Nigerian Politics in the last 1990's,
I have never seen where NLC left their Constitutional role of Fighting for Workers to getting involved in a roforofo fight with a Political party.🙁😒

Tinibu indeed deserve a Round of Applause! 🤨🙂