NLC Writes INEC, Plan Surprise Takeover Of Labour Party, Declares Showdown with Abure Faction

 

The simmering crisis within the Labour Party has taken a dramatic new turn as the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) steps up its campaign to reclaim the party's leadership structure from the Julius Abure-led faction. The NLC, under the stewardship of President Joe Ajaero, has formally petitioned the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), requesting the immediate withdrawal of recognition from Abure’s National Working Committee.

With tensions escalating between the party’s supposed political leadership and its founding trade union backers, the NLC’s latest actions underscore its determination to regain firm control of the Labour Party—an entity it insists was created and is legally owned by the trade union movement.

Speaking from Abuja, Ajaero did not mince words about the Congress’ intentions. He revealed that preparations are underway to carry out a sweeping “surprise takeover” of the party's secretariats in states across the country—facilities currently under the grip of Abure loyalists. According to Ajaero, the planned action is not only strategic but urgent, given what the NLC considers an illegitimate grip on the party’s structure by individuals it describes as “charlatans.”

This assertion follows months of increasing friction between the Labour Congress and the Abure-led National Working Committee. At the heart of the conflict is a controversial national convention recently organized in Nnewi, Anambra State—one the NLC roundly condemned and refused to recognize. The Congress argues that the convention was conducted without due consultation and in violation of previously agreed terms involving key party stakeholders, particularly the trade unions.

Ajaero, addressing the media ahead of the NLC’s upcoming National Executive Council (NEC) meeting, emphasized that the Labour Party was never intended to be a personal or elitist political venture. “The Labour Party is an institutional party,” he stated. “It was founded by and belongs to the trade unions. For anybody to try and claim it without the workers is not only laughable—it’s plagiarism.”

He further disclosed that the NLC had sent a formal letter to INEC, articulating its stance and demanding action against what it sees as an illegal extension of tenure by the Abure-led leadership. “We have written to INEC, and on the day of our NEC meeting, every other thing will be decided there,” Ajaero said, hinting at sweeping resolutions to come.

Far from issuing idle threats, the Labour Congress appears to be setting the stage for a bold political maneuver, one that could redefine the leadership of the Labour Party heading into the next election cycle. While specific dates for the secretariat takeovers remain under wraps, Ajaero was clear about the necessity of keeping the operation covert. “We are working on it. That’s why we didn’t announce a date. But we’ve asked every worker to be on standby.”

At the core of the NLC’s argument lies a belief that the Labour Party has strayed from its foundational principles. Ajaero insists that the party was designed to amplify the voice of the working class and act as a vehicle for organized labour’s political aspirations. “It’s not an empty shell,” he declared. “We will not sit back and allow opportunists to hijack the platform that was built by the sweat and sacrifice of workers across this country.”

Inside sources suggest that the NEC meeting will serve as a pivotal moment, potentially leading to the declaration of a new interim leadership or a caretaker committee backed by the NLC. The Congress appears confident in its legal and moral claim to the party’s identity, even citing possession of the party’s original certificate of registration as a key piece of leverage.

Political analysts are closely watching the unfolding drama, noting that the outcome of the NLC’s actions could have far-reaching consequences for the party’s structure, legitimacy, and performance in future elections. With the Labour Party having surged into national relevance during the last general elections, internal instability now poses a significant threat to its cohesion and public image.

Amid growing speculation about whether Abure will mount a legal challenge or rally his loyalists to resist the NLC’s offensive, observers say the coming days could be crucial. The planned secretariat takeovers—described by Ajaero as a strategic and necessary move—may either consolidate the NLC’s grip on the party or plunge it deeper into chaos.

While the NLC has yet to disclose who might lead the party in the post-Abure era, what’s clear is that it has no intention of standing down. Its current stance is both assertive and unapologetic, signaling a readiness to reclaim what it sees as its rightful place in the political arena.

“We’re not asking for permission. We’re enforcing our rights,” Ajaero said with finality. “The Labour Party was never meant to be a private empire—it belongs to Nigerian workers.”

As developments unfold, all eyes are now on the NLC’s NEC meeting, which could mark a turning point not just for the party but for the political representation of Nigeria’s labour movement.