The Conference of Nigeria Political Parties (CNPP) has appealed to both factions in the current leadership crisis rocking the Labour Party (LP) to resolve their differences and forge ahead in unity. The CNPP, which is an umbrella body of all registered political parties and political associations in Nigeria, emphasized that the overall interests of a political party must be paramount at all times, and that no individual’s desire should be placed above the party’s interest.
In a statement signed by its Secretary-General, Chief Willy Ezugwu, the CNPP urged the Labour Party leaders to refrain from allowing external forces to dictate the party’s internal affairs, as this could be detrimental to the party’s fortunes. The CNPP pointed out that every political party could experience leadership crisis due to conflicting interests, but it’s the responsibility of the elders of the party to resolve the crisis in the party’s interest.
The CNPP cited instances where such crisis affected the performance of political parties in national elections, such as the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) during the 2019 general elections. The ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) is also facing its own clash of interests over what certain interests in the party view as arbitrary micro-zoning of elective positions in the 10th National Assembly to individuals.
The CNPP specifically noted that the Labour Party went into the 2019 general elections without resolving its internal grievances, which led to the setting up of the Labour Party Security, Peace, and Conflict Resolution Committee (LPSPCRC). The current crisis in the party is linked to the inability of the National Executive Committee (NWC) of the party to resolve the internal crisis, despite constituting the eleven eminent members Committee headed by Chief Friday Toyin Ibadin, to reconcile all aggrieved members.
Therefore, the CNPP urged the Labour Party elders to return the warring factions to the path of reconciliation, as the current rigid approach to conflict resolution could lead to the disintegration of the party. The CNPP also advised against using the ongoing Presidential Election Petition as propaganda, as the provisions of the law are clear on the withdrawal of such petitions. Instead, the CNPP urged the warring factions to pursue common ground for reconciliation and unity.
