… Nenadi Usman, Darlington Nwokocha lead affairs
The Labour Party (LP), with the backing of Abia State Governor, Alex Otti, on Friday, inaugurated an interim National Working Committee (NWC) to pilot the affairs of the party.
The primary assignment of the NWC is to plan for the ward, local government, state and zonal congresses of the party, leading to a National Convention within the next three months.
The National Executive Council (NEC) of the party, at a meeting held at the Transcorp Hotel in Abuja, appointed Senator Nenadi Usman as the interim National Chairman of the party.
It also named Senator Darlington Nwokocha as the interim National Secretary of the LP.
They are to work with other NWC members to administer the party till a new leadership emerges at the national convention.
A communique issued at the end of the NEC read in part, “The NEC unanimously ratified and inaugurated the Interim National Working Committee (INWC) of the Labour Party under the leadership of Senator Nenadi E. Usman as the Interim National Chairman and Senator Darlington Nwokocha as the Interim National Secretary among other persons.
“Approval of the Schedule for Party Congresses and National Convention: The NEC approved the detailed schedule for the conduct of Ward Congresses, Local Government Area Congresses, State Congresses, Zonal Congresses, and the National Convention of the Labour Party. The National Secretariat is mandated to publish the guidelines and timelines to ensure transparent and democratic elections at all levels.
“Constitution of Statutory Committees: The NEC approved the constitution of statutory committees to supervise Membership Revalidation and New Member Registration across the country. These committees shall work with the National Secretariat, State Chairmen. and relevant stakeholders to ensure credibility and inclusiveness. The National Secretariat is mandated to publish the list and membership of the Committees.”
On the forthcoming Anambra State governorship election and other pending polls, the NEC stated, “The NEC reviewed the status of the party’s participation in the forthcoming Anambra Gubernatorial Election and various scheduled by-elections in senatorial districts and federal constituencies across the country.
“The NEC reaffirmed the commitment of the Party to fielding credible candidates and directed the INWC to conclude necessary preparations with INEC in line with the Electoral Act 2022.”
Among the statutory NEC members who attended the meeting were Governor Otti; deputy governor of Abia State, Engineer Ikechukwu Emetu; and the Chairman of the Board of Trustees (BoT), Chief S.O.Z. Ejiofoh, who was represented, the BoT Secretary, Alhaji Salisu Mohammed; President of the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC), Comrade Joe Ajaero; NLC Woman Leader, Comrade Deborah Yusuf; Trade Union Congress (TUC) Secretary, N. A. Toro; NLC General Secretary, Comrade Emmanuel Ugboaja; and TUC President, Comrade Festus Osifo President, who was represented.
Addressing the meeting earlier, Otti said the LP was being repositioned following the April 4 Supreme Court judgment, he said ended the tenure of the “former” NWC led by Mr Julius Abure.
He noted that though the judgment was unambiguous, different interpretations were given to it to create confusion and further deepen the leadership crisis that had engulfed the opposition party.
“The court judgment of April 4 handed over the party to its owners. The court admonished the respondents to step down and let the party grow.
“Unfortunately, different interpretations were given to the judgment outside the spirit and word of the judgment.
“Today, we formally start the process of getting a new leadership for the party from the ward to the National convention a proper, structured process”, Otti said.
The NLC President, Ajaero, in his speech, described the LP as the “only party that has hope for the common people”, recalling how some commercial motorcyclists were able to use the platform in 2023 to win key elective positions in the country.
However, he noted that to surpass previous performances, the party must be rebuilt and refocused as a united force.
In a veiled reference to the other LP camp led by Abure, the NLC President stated, “Anybody who is not with the labour force, and says he is the chairman, is a day-dreamer.
“When the chips are down we will say we don’t know you. It doesn’t matter if someone else tells them that they are the chairman.”
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