Labour Party Wields Big Stick Against Abure Loyalists, Condemns attempt to turn Party to a One Man Show
Labour Party on Wednesday condenmed attempt to turn the Party to a regional or one Man show, saying that all noticeable forms of ethnic and religious bigotry with inclinations that were clandestinely promoted by some of its national leaders will not be tolerated
Salient Times report that the Party in a communique issued at the end of its National Executive Meeting held in Bauchi on Wednesday frowned at, and rejected the attempted
conversion of the Labour Party to a one-man-show or regional political party by Barr Julius Abure; and condemned all the noticeable forms of ethnic and religious bigotry with inclinations that were clandestinely promoted by some of its former national working committee.
Reading the communique at the end of the meeting, the National Publicity Secretary of the Party, Dr Abayomi Arabambi said the Party believes in the rule of law and prompted to continue to pursuing the ongoing matter in court along with its presidential candidate, Mr Peter Obi, to see to the
successful reclaiming of the Party mandate at the presidential election petition tribunal; while also noting that LP will not be a Party to any unlawful act to cause a change of democratic
administration violently.
“The Labour Party (LP) National Executive Council, NEC meeting was attended by members of
the National Working Committee, NWC, State Chairmen, State Secretaries, National Assembly members-elect, Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), and Trade Union Congress (TUC)
“The National Executive Council (NEC) in session critically evaluated the 2023
General elections and noted that following the conclusion of the 2023 general election in Nigeria by the Independent National Electoral Commission, (INEC), the Labour Party (LP) National Executive Council, NEC have reasons to believe that there was considerable improvement in the states elections over the irregularities and network glitches noticed during the presidential and national elections.
“The National Executive Council, NEC, in session frowned at, and rejected the attempted conversion of the Labour Party to a one-man-show or regional political party by Barr Julius Abure; and condemned all the noticeable forms of ethnic and religious bigotry with inclinations that were clandestinely promoted by some of the former national working committee members: Julius Abure, Umar Farouk, Ojukwu Clement and Mrs Oluchi Okpara now restrained by the FCT High Court order on 5th April, 2023 from parading themselves as national officers of the labour party, LP.
“That NEC in session believes in the rule of law and prompted to continue to pursuing the ongoing matter in court along with our presidential candidate, Mr Peter Obi, to see to the successful reclaiming of our stolen mandate at the presidential election petition tribunal; while also noting that we will not be a Party to any unlawful act to cause a change of democratic administration violently as anticipated by Barr Julius Abure and his cohorts through their public incitement of anarchy.
“NEC in session, therefore, appealed to the judiciary to, at all times, be on the part of the people, by promoting acts that enhances democracy, values, rule of law, fundamental human rights and freedom of expression and speech; by upholding the doctrine of necessity and separation of powers to enhance good governance.
“NEC in session sympathized with Nigerians who have continued to wallow in abject poverty, hunger, unemployment, insecurity, poor infrastructure and underdevelopment that is inflicted on the mass of our people by maladministration and incompetent leadership.
LP reassured Nigerians that the imminent Labour Party Federal Government when in place, after the presidential election petition tribunal mandate recovery, shall change these ugly narratives of bad governance to the best.
The Party also “examined the anti-party activities of some of its members and resolved as follows:
i- Reaffirmed and upheld the decision of the Ogun state executive of Labour Party that earlier expelled Mr. Kehinde Shogunle, Engr. Akinpelu Shogunle, Engr. Lukmon Jagun Abiodun, Mr.
Tokunbo Peters, Bukola Shoyooye, Barr. Oluwafemi Ibiayo, Feson Gbadebo, Dayo Folarin, Adeshina Shojobi, Bamjoko Ajekpe, Tuned Taiwo, Olatunde Abolade, Abosede Lamidi, Malik
Olaleye, Adesegun Banmodu, Rev. Olufolabi Adebayo, over their failure to pay memberships dues for over six (6) months thus contravening Articles 9 (3) of LP constitution 2019 as amended and thus forfeited their membership
“ii- That NEC in session SUSPENDED ALL the following National Working Committee (NWC) members and States Chairmen and Secretaries over CONTEMPT of the FCT High Court Restraining Order who participated in the illegal NEC meeting convened by Barr Julius Abure on 18” April 2023 in Asaba Delta state and recommended them for disciplinary actions and also investigate them for fraudulent and anti-party activities over their conduct of the 15th April, 2023 Gubernatorial primaries in Imo, Bayelsa and Kogi states directed by Barr Julius Abure and Umar Farouk Ibrahim parading themselves as National Chairman and National Secretary to include:
a. Prince Kennedy Ahanotu
b. Comrade Mrs. Ladi Illiya
c. Dr. Ayo Olorunfemi
d. Chief Innocent Okeke Agumba
e. Mrs. Dudu Manuga
f. All the States Chairmen and secretaries that attended that illegal NEC meeting
8- That the NEC in session PARDONED AND FORGAVE the 2023 presidential candidate of labour party, LP, Mr Peter Obi, Vice presidential candidate Senator Yusuf Datti, Mr Alex Otti, Governor Elect of Abia state, all the senators, MHR and state Assembly members elected on the Labour Party’s platform for attending the illegal NEC meeting of 18h April, 2023 in Asaba Delta state organized by Barr Julius Abure in contempt of the FCT High Court Restraining Order of 5th April, 2023 that restrained Barr Julius Abure and others from parading themselves as national officers of the Labour Party (LP)
“The NEC in Session constituted a disciplinary Committee with members as follows:
1. Prince Favour Reuben:
2. Hussaine Saraki:
3. Comrade Eze Oko Splendor:
4. Mr Gbenga Daramola:
5. Alh. Lawan Saleh:
1. National Welfare Secretary:
2. Deputy Financial Secretary
10. That the NEC in Session approved the following National Offices & appointed the following officers:
a. Mr. Michael Ayuta Auta
b. Martins Egbanubi
c. Hon. Shina Sabur Aroyeun
3. National Director of Person Living with Disability:
d. Mr. Oboghor E. Anthony
e. Dr. Olatunbosun Oswald
“NEC in Session approved the appointment of the following National Working Committee members, earlier approved by the NWC
f. Ismaila Ishaku
g. Barr. Monday Mawah
h. Hajia Rahila Ibrahim
i. Rukaiya Salisu Umar
j. Olaniyi Shobajo
k. Iniobong Johnson
1. Ahmed Sani
n. Anas Ibrahim
o. Blessing Mgbe
p. Eloka Chinedu
q. Mrs Appolonia Ezeadili Obiageri
r. Titilope Oworu
m. Hon. Mohammed Ibrahim Ladan
s. Muideen Mustapha
a. National Organizing Secretary
b. National Treasurer-
c. National Financial Secretary
Chairman
d. National Vice Chairman South East:
e. National Women Leader
Secretary
Member
f. Deputy National Chairman TUC
Member
g. Deputy National Chairnman NLC
Member
i- Barr Oyelekan Akingbade
i-Comrade Abayomi Arabambi
iii-Comrade Eragbe Anslem
-Comrade Adorolo Lazarus
Deputy National Chairman
National Vice Chairman, North Central
– National Vice Chairman South West
– National Vice Chairman South South
– National Auditor
– Deputy National Secretary
– Deputy National Secretary
– Deputy National Women Leader
– Deputy National Women Leader
– Asst. National Youth Leader
– Asst. National Youth Leader
– Asst. National Youth Leader
“That NEC in session in line with the powers proceeded to fill the following vacant positions
as follows:
– Asst. National Youth Leader
– Asst. National Youth Leader
– Deputy National Woman Leader
– Asst. National Youth Leader S/E
– Deputy National Woman Leader S/E
– Deputy National Woman Leader S/W
– Asst. National Youth Leader
– Prince Favour Reuben
Gbenga Daramola
“That the NEC in session also noted that aside the newly appointed national working committee
members of labour party, the following national working committee members of the party shall
continue to function in their legitimate official positions without hindrance as follows:
George Opara
– Oko Eze
– National Legal Adiser
-National Publicity Secretary
-National Youth Leader
“That NEC in session considered the expiration of the curent National Working Committee
that will lapse in June, 2023 and stated inter alia, that it is the considered opinion of NEC and in view of recent events in our party, and considering the controversies and bad blood generated by elective convention, conscious of the numerous court cases; Presidential, Govemorship,
Senatorial, and House of Assemblies, the need to remain focused and reorganize the party, it is
most inappropriate to convene a National Convention in view of these numerous internal negative
forces within the party. Consequently, NEC in session extended the tenure of the current NWC for 6 months.
The Party also “approved that the next National Chairman to be elected at the next national convention shall come from the North, while the National Secretary shall come from the South in line with our party’s constitution in article 13 (2) (B) IX. It states as follows:
“To take decisions on when to hold a regular National Convention of the Party in the event that the National Convention could not hold for any reason whatsoever when it fell due
“NEC in session noted that this is in line with the best practices of the party. In 2012, when the Convention fell due and could not hold as scheduled, National Executive Council (NEC) in session extended the tenure of the NWC and the convention was held in 2014 as NEC in session
extended the tenure of the NWC and the Convention was held in 2014.
“In 2018, when the Convention became due and Convention could not hold, the NEC in session
which held in Minna, Niger State extended the tenure of the National Working Committee (NWC)
before the Convention was held in 2019
“The NEC in session approved the composition of 40 members Board of Trustees in line
with Article 13 (4) of the Labour Party Constitution 2019 as amended.
“That the NEC in session approved that the Chairman of the Board of Trustees shall come from the South, while the Secretary will come from the North and other members will come
from different Geopolitical zone of the country.
‘That the NEC in session ceded its power to the NWC to fill the Board of Trustees members
before convention and inaugurate the 40 members’ committee.
“That the NEC in session approved the amendment to the 2019 Labour Party Constitution in
Nasarawa Convention to reflect the current realities.
“The NEC in session also consider the action of Twelve (12) of its members namely:
Obiora Ifo, Kenneth Okonkwo, Pst. Mrs. Adebayo Ekong, Com. P.G. Igene, Egnr. Adeola
Adebanjo, Pst. Funke Awolowo, Sam Emeka Okpala, Barr. Folusho Leigh, Folakemi Collins, Com. Olubunmi Adesanya, Lanre Adenuga and Dr. Olatubosun Oswald for their
anti-party activities and unruly behavior against the party leadership which include issuing statement without authority of the party. The NEC in session therefore suspended them from the party.
“The NEC in session reposed implicit confidence in Alhaji Bashiru Lamidi Apapa led National Working Committee (NWC) of the Labour Party LP
