The Labour Party (LP) crisis took a new turn yesterday as two of the three camps that are neck-deep in the supremacy battle – the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), led by Comrade Joe Ajaero and the National Caretaker Committee (NCC), led by Senator Esther Nenadi-Usman, joined forces against the National Working Committee (NWC), led by the factional Chairman, Julius Abure.
Ajaero attended the LP stakeholders’ meeting presided over by Senator Nenadi-Usman in Abuja, where key resolutions geared towards the restructuring of the party were approved by the National Executive Council (NEC).
The meeting was also attended by the representatives of Abia State Governor Alex Otti and former Anambra State Governor Peter Obi.
Also, at the meeting were: NLC General Secretary Emmanuel Ugboaja; Women Commission Chairperson Salamatou Aliu; Board of Trustees (BoT) Chairman Comrade SOZ Ejiofor; Secretary, Comrade Salisu Mohammed and representatives of the TUC President, General.
It was the first meeting of the decision making organ after the Supreme Court’s judgment on the protracted leadership crisis.
According to the communiqué, the NEC approved the expansion of the National Working Committee (NWC) and the processes that would lead to an all-inclusive national convention within 90 days.
Other resolutions included the opening of a new national secretariat in Abuja, nationwide mobilisation of 10 million members within 30 days and the conduct of ward, local government, and state congresses, followed by delegate elections.
The communiqué reads: “NEC approved the expansion of the National Working Committee (NWC) structures, and the processes leading to the conduct of the All Inclusive And Expansive National Convention within 90 days in line with the consent judgment terms of settlement midwifed by INEC on 26th April 2022 and executed between the NLC and LP on June 27, 2022.
“These include the appointment of three (3) Deputy National Chairmen to Deputize the National Chairman, Senator Nenadi Esther Usman in the National Working Committee (NWC) transition government, National Caretaker Committee (NCC).
“The appointment of three (3) Deputy National Secretaries to Deputize the National Secretary, Senator Darlington Nwokocha.
“The appointment of the National Working Committee (NWC) members to fill vacancies in the National Working Committee (NWC) National Caretaker Committee (NCC).
“The formation of Standing and Ad-hoc Committees and its membership to augment process of the congresses leading to the conduct of the all-inclusive and expansive National Convention within 90 days.
“NEC approved the opening and operations of the new Labour Party (LP) National Secretariat in Abuja, FCT, immediately and to communicate same to INEC to enforce the shutting down of the old National Secretariat at No.2 IBM Haruna Street Utako District Abuja FCT immediately.
“It will thereafter commence the immediate nationwide national mobilisation of ten million (10,000,000) members into the party data base within thirty (30) days; the deployment of online registration for membership with issuance of downloadable membership cards with unique identification number system and hard copies; the revalidation of old membership with issuance of downloadable membership cards with unique identification number system and hard copies, the ratification of membership with payment of annual membership subscription dues of N1,200 only; and the registration of Support Group and issuance of downloadable Support Group Registration Certificates with unique identification number systems.”
