The Labour Party (LP) camp of Abia State Governor, Dr. Alex Otti, and its 2023 presidential candidate, Mr. Peter Obi, made far-reaching decisions on Wednesday at the end of its National Executive Council (NEC) meeting, including expanding the membership of the National Working Committee (NWC).
The NEC meeting, held in Abuja, also approved the convening of a National Convention within 90 days, beginning with ward congresses.
Otti and Obi were represented at the meeting, according to a communiqué issued by the camp on Wednesday evening.
The new officials approved by the NEC include three National Deputy Chairmen to deputize for the National Chairman, Ms. Nenadi Usman; three National Deputy Secretaries to deputize for the National Secretary, Sen. Darlington Nwokocha; and the appointment of members to fill vacancies in the NWC and the National Caretaker Committee (NCC) of the party.
Other resolutions included the formation of Standing and Ad-hoc Committees and their memberships to augment the congresses leading to the conduct of the All-Inclusive and Expansive National Convention within 90 days.
The NEC also approved the opening and operation of a new Labour Party National Secretariat in Abuja, FCT, and resolved to notify INEC to enforce the immediate closure of the old National Secretariat at No. 2 IBM Haruna Street, Utako District, Abuja.
Additional resolutions include:
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Immediate nationwide mobilisation of ten million (10,000,000) members into the party’s database within thirty (30) days.
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Deployment of an online registration system for new members, with downloadable membership cards containing unique identification numbers, as well as physical copies.
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Revalidation of existing members, with issuance of updated membership cards featuring unique identification numbers.
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Ratification of membership through an annual subscription fee of N1,200 only.
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Registration of support groups and issuance of downloadable Support Group Registration Certificates with unique identification numbers.
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Commencement of processes leading to the conduct of the National Convention, including Ward Congresses, Local Government Area Congresses, State Congresses, Delegates Elections, and the All-Inclusive and Expansive National Convention in 2025.
Speaking at the event, Obi—represented by a chieftain of the LP, Chief Peter Ameh—said Nigeria had experienced difficult times but expressed confidence that the party would be repositioned to rescue the nation.
“Labour Party has been chosen as the preferred party to deliver Nigeria from bad leadership, maladministration, and the corruption of the APC government.
“The decision the party has taken is to reposition itself. We have a party in which people have so much confidence, one that can drive the process toward the 2027 general elections and beyond,” he told participants.
Also speaking, Nenadi Usman said, “It is really unfortunate that a great party like ours—which has structures across the country—has been under such pressure. There is no polling unit you go to where you won’t find a nurse, school teacher, or some worker who forms the backbone of the Labour Party.
“I believe that if we can get our act together, we will become the biggest party in Nigeria. There’s a proverb that says if people are throwing stones at a tree, it means that tree bears fruit.
“So for the Labour Party to be going through all this means our detractors recognize the party’s potential and are trying to hinder our progress.
“But I want to urge you: we must look at how we can go back to the grassroots to mobilize our members and get them to register once again.”
The President of the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC), Joe Ajaero, also expressed his support.
He said, “It is our potential that is attracting all these attacks. All government agencies are involved in the plot to destabilize the party.
“I call on the government to stop interfering with the workers’ party. Globally, Labour Parties are run by trade unions—in over 57 countries. Why should Nigeria be different? Labour Party is the only party where the son of a poor man can become somebody.
“In the next one month, we will complete our sensitization campaign. Those who wish to join the Labour Party should come now, but they must be credible, institutional people.
“The founders of the party have a duty to put things in order. We are not fighting anyone. I sent a letter after the Supreme Court judgment urging every worker to be on standby. In the coming days, there will be action to reclaim what belongs to us.”
However, in a reaction from the faction of the party led by the National Chairman, Mr. Julius Abure, Ajaero was strongly criticized for allegedly causing division within the LP.
“The NLC President, Ajaero—who now sounds like a broken record—has reiterated his resolve to invade the national and state secretariats of the Labour Party unannounced, with his cohorts, intending to forcefully take over the party.
“We must state clearly that if anyone has destabilized the Labour Party, it is Joe Ajaero and the NLC.
“After the 2023 general election, the party had no faction and no major disagreements. It was Ajaero who illegally and unconstitutionally set up a so-called Transition Committee, which went about creating chaos and tarnishing the party’s image.
“It was this same committee that kept visiting INEC, constituting a nuisance in an attempt to destabilize the party, while mobilizing old and retired individuals like Abdulwaheed Omar, Comrade Ejiofor, Lawson Osagie, and Prof. Theophilus Ndubaku—men who should be resting—to act against the party’s interest.
“Nigerians have urged Ajaero to focus on his primary duty: fighting for workers’ welfare. Even the regulatory body overseeing the Labour Union under the Ministry of Labour has publicly advised Ajaero to stay out of politics and focus on his legitimate role.
“Let it be on record that the Ajaero-led NLC has failed Nigerian workers. As shown in his last May Day speech, today’s workers are oppressed, the economy is not working, and labor rights are being trampled—yet Ajaero is busy pursuing political ambitions instead of defending workers’ welfare,” said Mr. Obiora Ifoh, the party’s National Publicity Secretary, in a statement on Wednesday.
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