The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has declared its support for the Labour Party (LP) and vowed to protect it from “rodents” trying to infiltrate the political party. Led by Comrade Joseph Ajaero, the NLC stormed the national headquarters of the LP in Abuja to demonstrate their support for the embattled national chairman, Barrister Julius Abure.
The LP is currently facing a leadership crisis following two court orders regarding the position of the national chairman. The NLC, which formed the LP to represent the ideological persuasions of Nigerian workers, has maintained that Abure is still the party chairman. However, an FCT High Court granted an interim order preventing Abure from parading himself as the party chairman, while a High Court in Benin, Edo State, gave an order restraining anyone from removing Abure as party chairman.
During the solidarity visit, Comrade Ajaero emphasized that no one could illegally declare themselves as chairman, secretary, or any other position of the party without the consent of the NLC. He warned that anyone attempting to do so would be tackled by workers anywhere in the country, and the LP would be fumigated of all “rodents.”
Ajaero added a humorous twist, stating, “We have come with some insecticide to fumigate the house from any rodents that are illegally trying to enter our property. Incidentally, we didn’t see any rodents, but we will comb around and see whether there is any.”
Abure expressed his determination to continue the court case until the mandate of the party was restored. He stated that no amount of harassment, intimidation, nor falsehood would deter the LP from pursuing its mandate. The NLC’s solidarity visit to the LP headquarters in Abuja demonstrates the organization’s commitment to protecting the ideological persuasions of Nigerian workers.
The LP was formed by the NLC and TUC when they lost confidence in existing political parties. The party refused to be distracted and would continue to pursue the court case until the mandate of the party was recovered. The NLC urged all workers in the country to arrest anyone who illegally declares themselves as chairman, secretary, or any other position of the party and bring them to the NLC.
