The Nigeria Labor Congress (NLC) has once again rejected the leadership of the Labor Party (LP), Julius Abre, insisting that the judgment of the Federal High Court in Abuja in his favor does not change their position.
Recall that on October 8, 2024, Justice Emeka Nwite justified the Labor Party’s national conference to be held in Nnewi in March 2024.
The court declared the convention legal and ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to recognize Habre and the leadership of the National Working Committee (NWC) elected during the convention.
Following the court’s direction, INEC has formally recognized Barrister Julius Abre as the National Chairman of the Labor Party (LP).
INEC’s decision to recognize Mr. Abure was disclosed in a letter addressed to him and the party’s national secretary, Alhaji Umar Farouk Ibrahim.
INEC Director-General Rose O’Allan-Anthony has called on the Labor Party to participate in the 4th Political Parties Conference.
However, in a statement released on Thursday, NLC acting political committee chairman Theophilus Ndubuaku criticized Habre’s leadership and accused him of undermining the party’s stability ahead of the next election. did.
Ndubuaku described the court’s decision as a “grave miscarriage of justice” and pointed out that the NLC and the Trades Union Congress (TUC), which are constitutionally recognized party organizations, had not participated in the legal process.
“The NLC political committee sees this judgment as another act of desperation and deception by Julius Habre and his group, whose only aim is to exploit the goodwill of the Labor Party for personal gain. ” said Ndubuaku.
He also accused Habre of working for outside interests aimed at sabotaging the party in the run-up to the 2027 general elections.
Mr Ndubuaku expressed disappointment with the court’s support for the Nnewi convention, which he claimed was held in violation of party rules and previous court orders.
He also questioned why the NLC and TUC were excluded from the legal process.
Ndubuaku said: “The NLC Political Committee uses this judgment as a new addition to Julius Habre and his cronies who have no job other than to prey on and parasitize the goodwill of the Labor Party to support him.” “I view this as an act of desperation and deception.” It’s for their financial gain.
“Unfortunately, adopting a mischievous and covert approach to the judiciary has ensured that entrenched interests are intent on sabotaging and destabilizing the Labor Party in the run-up to the 2027 general election. Julius Habre and his ilk continue to pull the plug on our judicial system.
“We believe that Justice Omotosho’s judgment and now Justice Emeka Nwite’s judgment, by respecting the widely maligned Labor Party’s Nnewi convention that Mr. Habre conducted illegally, annulled Mr. Julius Habre’s We recognize that it appears to lend a veneer of legitimacy to the leadership.
“Our position is formed on legal and moral grounds.The Nigeria Labor Congress, the only statutory body recognized in the Labor Party constitution, has been recognized as a party to two court proceedings brought by Mr. Habre. It’s strange that I didn’t participate.”
He noted that Mr. Habre had failed to abide by the agreement made between the National Working Committee (NWC) and the party council of April 2022, overseen by INEC.
The agreement stipulated that Mr. Habre’s term as secretary of state would end in June this year following the death of the previous president, after which a new leader would be elected by the convention.
Ndubuaku added that in line with the agreement, stakeholders appointed Senator Esther Nenadi Usman as the chairperson of the interim management committee.
The NLC Political Committee supports Labour’s Interim National Management Committee’s plan to appeal against the recent court ruling.
He called Mr Habre and his allies “errand boys” for political organizations that are against Labor’s interests, and reassured Labor members not to lose hope.
He expressed confidence that forces undermining democracy would eventually be exposed and the will of the people would prevail.
“No matter how many court decisions there are, Julius Habre will never be accepted as leader by Labor members. The fight for justice and democracy will continue and the will of the people will prevail.” concluded Mr. Ndubuaku.