NLC to Peter Obi: “You are free to leave Labour Party”
The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has officially allowed the presidential candidate of the Labour Party, Peter Obi, to disassociate himself from the NLC. Benson Upah, the spokesperson for the NLC, confirmed this during an interview on Sunday.
Despite ongoing efforts by the NLC leadership to unseat Julius Abure from his position as the national chairman of the Labour Party, Upah emphasized the union’s refusal to recognise Abure’s leadership, labeling it as ‘illegal’.
He said, “Our position on this matter is clear and has not changed. Abure remains unknown to us. It is not a question of removal. As far as we know, he does not exist.”
In respect to Abure’s leadership, a group of retired workers under the aegis of Lagos Assembly of Labour Veterans and Trade Unionists has called for the resignation of the embattled national chairman of the party and the NLC President, Joe Ajaero, over their controversial leadership struggle.
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Obi has been in disagreement with the LP leadership regarding the conduct of the convention in Nnewi, Anambra State. This is despite his appeal for more extensive consultation.
In an X Space session last Friday the former Anambra governor expressed his dismay.
Obi said he didn’t attend the national convention that got Julius Abure re-elected as the party’s national chairman because the party’s leadership failed to heed his appeal for wider consultation with relevant stakeholders before the exercise.
His comment has further fuelled earlier speculations that the LP presidential candidate may have started shopping for a new platform despite being guaranteed the 2027 ticket at the convention.
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But Upah said the issue of whether Obi should stay or leave the party should not be debated, saying the former governor was free to determine his destiny.
According to him, the NLC cannot stand in the way of the presidential candidate should he decide to defect to another political platform. Upah regarded Obi as a valuable resource, affirming that the congress would not stand in his way if he chose to leave.
In Upah’s words he said, “The right of choice is available to Mr Obi. If he chooses to leave the party, that is his preference. We can’t sit in judgment over him on that. But if he chooses to remain, of course, Peter Obi is an asset any day. I rest my case on that.”
