The meeting of Labour Party stakeholders convened by Abia State Governor, Dr. Alex Otti on Wednesday this week, may dissolve the controversial National Working Committee (NWC) of the party led by Julius Abure.
The meeting may also disband the National Transition Committee (NTC) set up by the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), to organise an all-inclusive national convention to replace Abure’s NWC.
The NTC is headed by former NLC President, Comrade Abdulwaheed Omar.
In their place, a caretaker committee that will comprise representatives of the NLC, the Trade Union Congress (TUC) and other interest groups within the Labour Party, will be set up to organise congresses from ward level up to the national convention.
Sunday Telegraph gathered that the compromise position, which has received the blessing of the party’s National Leader, Mr. Peter Obi, is to give Labour Party a new beginning.
“Labour Party has been in crisis since after the general elections, and if nothing urgent is done, it will affect our chances in future elections.
“The worst is that nobody is recognised by INEC as leader of the party at the moment. That means, nobody will sign nomination paper or document that will be accepted by INEC.
“So, we need a new beginning, and we want everybody to be part of it; nobody should be left behind.
“We need everyone, the NLC, the TUC and the Obidient Family, for us to build and united and strong Labour Party,” a source told this reporter.
Abure’s March 27 national convention held in Nnewi, Anambra State, was rejected because it excluded party stakeholders.
The Labour Party caucus in the House of Representatives said they were not carried along, while the NLC Political Commission, accused Abure of non- consultation, and of running a one-man show.
“The National Convention of any national political party is such an important event that ought not to be conducted without proper planning, or in a hurry,” the caucus leader, Rep Afam Ogene, had argued.
But Abure jettisoned this advice and went ahead to conduct the convention, which was not even monitored by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
At a meeting INEC had with leadership of political parties on July 29, Abure was walked off the meeting venue. He was also not invited at another meeting held on August 29.
He admitted at a press conference that INEC has stopped inviting Labour Party to its activities but insisted that the commission’s absence at the Nnewi convention did not invalidate it.
The source told Sunday Telegraph that the exclusion of Labour Party from INEC functions was what angered Obi.
“I can tell you, Obi is on the same page with Otti. If not Obi, NLC would have chased Abure out of the party secretariat.
“The stakeholders meeting is to give him soft landing. They want to reposition the party for the next general elections,” the source disclosed.
Abure has rejected the planned stakeholders’ meeting, arguing that the power to call such meeting resided only on him and the National Secretary, Umar Farouk.
He threatened disciplinary action against Otti or other party members, who may go against the rules.
Omar, however, welcomed the meeting. He said in a statement that the meeting would bring lasting peace and progress to the party, and open a new chapter of progress that would bring back those who left the party in protest of Abure’s style of leadership.
Abure also rejected Otti’s suggestion for the dissolution of the NWC, to make way for an all-inclusive National Convention, where new party leadership would emerge.
Though Omar was silent on what becomes of the NTC after the September 4 Umuahia meeting, a member of Political Commission who pleaded anonymity told this newspaper: “If the aggregate opinion is for progress and to move the party forward, I do not think we will object to it because our overall interest is to rescue the party from retrogressive elements.”
