The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has pledged to thwart any attempts to derail the Labour Party, which is currently enjoying broad support among Nigerians. The vow was announced on Monday when NLC leaders stormed the party’s national secretariat in Utako, Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, to show solidarity with the embattled National Chairman, Julius Abure, despite tight security.
NLC National President Joe Ajaero promised to root out those seeking to usurp the party’s leadership. He addressed workers at the secretariat, noting that the Labour Party was born out of frustration with recent conduct by Nigerian politicians and emphasizing that established procedures must be followed before any leadership change. Ajaero warned that the labour movement would not allow anyone to derail the party they helped revive from impostors.
He declared, “Today we say enough is enough. Never again will any person enter here under any guise or order. Even if we lose our leadership, we must meet as trustees of this party to decide the next line of action.” He urged workers nationwide to arrest anyone who illegally declares themselves chairman, secretary, or any other party office and bring them to the NLC.
Ajaero invoked a biblical passage, stating, “From the days of John the Baptist the kingdom of God suffereth violence, and violence taketh by force.” He warned that envy and jealousy were being used to sabotage the party’s rapid growth, and threatened that those responsible would be held accountable, adding, “Let it be known to the whole world that the NLC fathered the LP and we will not abandon our child.”
Meanwhile, the Abuja High Court on Monday refused to lift the interim injunction that restrains Abure, National Secretary Alhaji Farouk Ibrahim, and two others from presenting themselves as party leaders. Counsel for Abure, Senior Advocate of Nigeria Alex Ejieseme, had asked the court to vacate the order, arguing that it deepened the party’s division, as evidenced by four groups in the Imo State chapter holding parallel primaries. Justice Mnuazu denied the request and ordered all parties to expedite the filing of their processes, adjourning the case until April 20 to hear pending applications.
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