The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has officially petitioned the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to withdraw its recognition of the Julius Abure-led National Working Committee (NWC) of the Labour Party, citing the expiration of their tenure and a breach of prior agreements with organised labour.
NLC President, Comrade Joe Ajaero, disclosed this development in Abuja, adding that the Congress is finalizing plans to reclaim control of the party’s state secretariats, which are currently managed by Abure loyalists.
“We have written to INEC, and on the day of our NEC meeting, all outstanding issues will be addressed,” Ajaero confirmed. “The Labour Party belongs to the trade union movement. It cannot be run like a private estate.”
NLC Accuses Abure-Led Faction of Hijacking Party
The move marks an escalation in the ongoing power tussle between the NLC and the embattled Abure-led leadership. The Congress insists that the current leadership’s tenure has long expired and its continued stay violates an agreement brokered with labour stakeholders.
Tensions boiled over following the Labour Party’s controversial national convention held in Nnewi, Anambra State, which the NLC has refused to recognise.
“It is laughable for anyone to claim ownership of the Labour Party without the backing of trade unions,” Ajaero said. “The party was founded on the strength of organised labour—it is not a political orphanage.”
Nationwide Takeover of Party Secretariats Imminent
Ajaero also announced that the NLC is preparing to execute a coordinated takeover of the Labour Party’s secretariats in various states—a move described as “imminent” and intentionally unannounced to retain the element of surprise.
“We’re working on it. That’s why we won’t disclose a date,” he said. “But we have instructed all workers to remain on standby for immediate action.”
The NLC president claimed that the Labour Party’s original registration certificate is still in the custody of the NLC, underscoring the union’s claim to the party’s legitimate ownership.
“The certificate of the Labour Party is in this office. That is not in dispute,” Ajaero emphasized.
NLC Vows to Resist Political “Hijack” by Outsiders
The NLC leadership has vowed to resist any attempt by what it describes as “charlatans and political opportunists” to hijack the Labour Party. Ajaero warned that efforts to isolate organised labour from the party’s structure would be met with strong resistance.
“Trying to appropriate the Labour Party without the workers is not only illegitimate—it amounts to plagiarism,” he stated.
He further stressed that the upcoming NLC National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting will be crucial in shaping the union’s next course of action regarding the Labour Party’s leadership structure and operational control.
The latest clash is part of a wider crisis engulfing the Labour Party, with internal divisions threatening to undermine its recent momentum following the 2023 general elections. Stakeholders fear that unless resolved, the rift could weaken the party’s appeal ahead of future elections.
Meanwhile, INEC is yet to publicly respond to the NLC’s petition or comment on the leadership controversy.
