TheCable

The Labour Party (LP) says it is not aware of the existence of any board of trustees (BoT) that is claiming to have taken over its affairs.

BACKGROUND

On Wednesday, the LP conducted its national convention in Anambra state where Julius Abure was re-elected as the national chairman of the party.

Reacting to Abure’s re-election, the board of trustees (BoT) of the LP in a statement by S.O.Z. Ejiofor, its chairman, said the body has taken over the affairs of the party.

Ejiofor said the decision was taken to prevent a leadership vacuum in the party as the tenure of Abure has come to an end.

But in a statement on Thursday, Obiora Ifoh, national publicity secretary of the LP, said Abure is still the national chairman of the party.

Ifoh said the party is not aware of the existence of any BoT.

He further said Ejiofor is not a recognised member of the party.

“Labour Party on Wednesday successfully conducted its national convention in Nnewi Anambra state and Barrister Julius Abure was elected unanimously and overwhelmingly by over 350 delegates that were in attendance,” the statement reads.

“Despite this huge success, It came to the leadership of the party as a huge surprise of a statement trending in the social media purportedly from one Comrade SOZ Ejiofor on behalf of the Board of Trustees of the party claiming that he has taken over the leadership of the party.

“First, ever since Ejiofor stepped down as the first National chairman of the Labour Party over two decades ago, he has neither attended any meeting or played any noticeable role as a member of the party.

“He is not even known in his ward and has not paid a single dime as membership dues which qualifies him as a member.

“It is surprising therefore that after he was “visited” by some leaders of NLC, he suddenly woke up from his slumber.

“The point here is that the Labour Party is not aware of the existence of any Board of Trustees.

“Enough of all these political muscle flexing, Barrister Julius Abure has just been elected by the convention for the first time as the National Chairman of the Labour Party, we urge our detractors to please sheathe the sword and join us to salvage the nation.

“Labour Party is not a political association, it is a party subscribed by all Nigerians including workers, non workers, students amongst others.

“Only people who understand the rules of the party and play by it such as carrying party cards and paying membership dues can have a say on the matters of the party.

“Incidentally, Comrades Ajaero and Ejiofor are not members and will not be allowed to interfere with the internal matters of the party.”