Protesters from the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) gathered outside the National Headquarters of the Labour Party (LP) today, demanding the immediate removal of the National Chairman, Comrade Julius Abure. The demonstrators were met with resistance from armed regular policemen stationed at the entrance of the building, preventing them from gaining access.
Despite the obstruction, the protest remained largely peaceful, with participants singing solidarity songs and urging an end to what they described as “Abure’s reign of corruption tyranny.”
The NLC leadership has accused Abure of orchestrating plans for an “illegal convention” aimed at prolonging his tenure or appointing his allies to act on his behalf. This move has drawn criticism from various quarters, including the Joe Ajaero-led faction of the NLC and the House of Representatives Caucus of the LP, both of whom have contested the proposed convention date.
Organised Labour, a significant power bloc within the LP, has joined the chorus calling for Abure’s resignation to facilitate an independent audit of the party’s finances. Allegations of financial impropriety have been levied against Abure by the former National Treasurer, prompting calls for accountability and transparency within the party’s leadership.
In response to the mounting pressure, the Abure-led National Working Committee (NWC) of the LP issued a statement over the weekend, accusing Joe Ajaero of harboring ambitions to replace Abure as National Chairman. The party’s National Publicity Secretary, Obiora Ifoh, urged Ajaero to resign from his position as NLC President before pursuing leadership changes within the LP.
The standoff between the NLC protesters and the LP leadership underscores growing tensions within the party, as calls for accountability clash with efforts to maintain control at the highest levels. As the demands for Abure’s resignation intensify, the future direction of the Labour Party remains uncertain, with implications for both its internal dynamics and its broader political influence.
