The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) in collaboration with other stakeholders, have set up a transition committee to replace the National Chairman of the Labour Party (LP) , Mr Julius Abure and take over affairs of the party.
The NLC Political Commission disclosed this in a communiqué it issued after a meeting it had with some stakeholders, including some members of the LP, the presidential candidate of the party, Mr Peter Obi, members of the Apapa Lamidi-led factions of LP, some of the party’s candidates, as well as support groups, amongst others.
The document was signed by Professor Theophilus Ndubuaku, Chairman, NLC Political Commission, Abdulwahed Omar, NLC Former President, Comrade S.O.Z. Ejiofor LP Chairman, Board of Trustees and Engr. Gambo Daniel Balarabe National Coordinator, CSF. It was also signed by Dr. Moses Paul Coordinator, Obidient Movement, Chief Yohana Yilpwan Margif LP Plateau State Governorship Candidate, Dr. Kingsley Okundaye, Coordinator, LPPMC,Hon. Jonathan Asake, Kaduna State LP Governorship Candidate and Barr. Ihekwoaba Paul, for Disabled Persons in LP.
It said that the Transition Committee shall, within three months of its constitution, ensure the conduct of an inclusive national convention of the LP starting from ward congresses to local government to state congresses, culminating in an all-inclusive and expansive National Convention in Abuja.
The communique also said that the Transition Committee is mandated by the Stakeholders Meeting to begin the process of revalidation of current members of LP and the registration of new members through the issuance of new membership cards and receipt of dues for the purpose of conducting an all-inclusive and expansive national convention of the Party.
It said that the mobilisation drive is expected to yield a total membership strength of 10 million in it first instance.
The document read: “Owing to the current vacuum in the leadership of the Labour Party, the NLC Political Commission consequent on its status in the Constitution of the Labour Party as a registered trustee of the Labour Party, a status that was further buttressed by a Federal High Court Consent Judgement delivered on March 20, 2018 by Justice Gabriel Kolawole, convened this Stakeholders meeting to address the leadership void in the Labour Party and to discuss the repositioning of the Labour Party to deliver its mandate as the political vehicle for the emancipation of Nigerian workers and people.
“The Stakeholders Meeting noted the vacuum in the leadership of the Labour Party following the expiration of the supposed tenure of the immediate past National Working Committee of the Labour Party.
“The Stakeholders Meeting affirmed and validated the intervention of the Nigeria Labour Congress through her Political Commission as the only body recognised by the Constitution of the Labour Party and Justice Kolawole’s Consent Judgement to act as trustee in a situation of leadership vacuum as is currently the case in the Labour Party.
“The Stakeholders Meeting following the unanimous adoption of a motion to accept the recommendations made in the address by the NLC Political Commission Chairman resolved that in order to reposition the Labour Party from a mere platform for contesting elections to a viable political vehicle for the emancipation of Nigerian workers and people the following steps must be taken immediately:
“Constitution of a Transition Committee under the leadership of the NLC Political Commission and working with all stakeholders with a mandate to set up structures at national, state, local government and ward level for the conduct of an all-inclusive and expansive national convention of the Labour Party.
“The Stakeholders Meeting passed a vote of no-confidence in the purported Labour Party national convention held in Nnewi, Anambra State and regards as inconsequential the leadership that claims to have emerged from the illegal new convention.
“That the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and all the relevant security organisations in Nigeria are hereby notified and should be officially written immediately to recognise the Transition Committee as the interim leadership of the Labour Party pending the conduct of an all-inclusive and expansive National Convention of the Labour Party.
“That the Transition Committee once constituted, should fully take over the secretariats of the Labour Party all over Nigeria. That the Transition Committee shall immediately set up an assets recovery process of all the properties of the Labour Party.
“The Transition Committee shall also ensure that all the cases of fraud, impersonation and forgery of government documents pending against a few discredited former officers of the Labour Party are
forensically audited and culprits are diligently prosecuted as demanded by leader of the Labour Party – Mr. Peter Obi. It is unfortunate that the actions of these few dishonourable characters have splashed mud on the white satin of Labour Party.”
