By: Manoah Kikekon
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| Julius Abure, Labour Party National Chairman and Dayo Ekong, Labour Party Lagos State Chairman |
The Labour Party Chairmen across 20 local governments in Lagos State have pledged their allegiance to the national party chairman, Julius Abure, adding that the decision after the Umuahia stakeholders meeting would not stand.
This was disclosed on Tuesday after the meeting held at the state secretariat in Ikeja, Lagos State, Nigeria.
The copy of the communiqué signed by 17 local government party chairman, which was made available to News Peddlers readers:
We, the undersigned Chairmen of the Labour Party (LP) across the 20 Local Government Areas of Lagos State, hereby reaffirm our unwavering support for the National Chairman, Barrister Julius Abure, the National Working Committee (NWC), the Lagos State LP Chairman, and the Lagos State Working Committee. In light of recent developments, we unanimously declare the so-called "Labour Party Stakeholders' Meeting" held in Umuahia, Abia State, on September 4, 2024, to be null and void. This meeting, which purported to make decisions on behalf of the Labour Party, is neither recognized by the Labour Party Constitution nor sanctioned by any relevant electoral laws.
We also believe that our esteemed leader, Mr. Peter Obi, may have been misled by certain individuals whose objective is to undermine his standing and create a precarious political situation. We strongly urge Mr. Peter Obi to reconsider his recent actions, as those advising him may not have the best interests of the party or his political future in mind.
Mr. Peter Obi has always been an advocate for due process, the rule of law, and justice. It is therefore ironic to see him engage in actions that contradict these principles in an attempt to remove Barrister Julius Abure. We believe a more appropriate approach would have been to explore political solutions in a manner consistent with his established values.
It is also worth noting that Mr. Obi himself provided moral and financial support for the Nnewi convention, with His Excellency, the Governor of Abia State, Mr. Alex Otti, also offering substantial financial backing. The convention was chaired by the Deputy Governor, Mr. Ikechukwu Emetu, who had the honor of declaring Barrister Julius Abure as the National Chairman. Numerous government officials, including the Governors commissioners, were in attendance and actively participated.
Furthermore, the Nnewi convention, held on March 27, 2024, was well-attended by Labour Party Senators, members of the House of Representatives, members of various State Houses of Assembly, and other key party stakeholders from across the country, ensuring it was a fully inclusive and representative event.
Importantly, the legitimacy of the Nnewi convention has been upheld by the Federal High Court sitting in Abuja, which declared it valid. This court decision is particularly significant, as it mirrors the same process by which Mr. Peter Obi was selected as the Labour Party's presidential candidate at the Asaba convention in 2022.
In conclusion, we stand united in our continued support for Barrister Julius Abure and the National Working Committee and Pastor Dayo Ekong and the Lagos State Working Committee. We urge all party members to rally behind the leadership as we collectively work towards strengthening the Labour Party and advancing its goals.