…as Abure was conspicuously absent at Umuahia meeting
The Labour Party (LP) on Wednesday inaugurated a 39-man Caretaker Committee to run the party with Senator Esther Nenadi Usman as chairman.
The party, in a communiqué after its National Executive Committee (NEC) and Stakeholders meeting in Umuahia, Abia State capital named Darlington Nwokocha as secretary. The committee was given a time frame of 90 days to midwife an election that will usher in a new leadership.
The extraordinary meeting, attended by the Presidential candidate of the party in the 2023 elections, Mr Peter Obi, his deputy, Mr Datti Baba-Ahmed, Abia governor, Dr Alex Otti, Senator Victor Umeh, Rep. Obi Aguocha and other notable personalities, observed in the communiqué that the tenure of Julius Abure-led National Working Committee (NWC) ended on June 10, 2024, adding that “there’s need to ensure that there’s no vacuum in NWC of the party”.
The leaders of the party used the forum to mandate the newly inaugurated Caretaker Committee to immediately conduct the Ward, LGA and State Congresses of the party as well as it’s National Convention as soon as possible, adding that the exercise should be done according to the LP’s constitution.
The requested all members of the party across the nation to support the newly inaugurated Caretaker Committee to achieve it’s mandate.
Full text of communiqué reads:
“Whereas:
A. “The tenure of the members of the National Working Committee (NWC) of the Labour Party ended by effusion of time on the 10th of June, 2024, there is need to ensure that there is no vacuum in the NWC of the party.
“Now, therefore, at this duly convened NEC/Extended Stakeholders meeting held in Umuahia, Abia State Capital, the following resolutions have been considered and reached:
1. “A roll call was conducted and the meeting was confirmed to be duly convened.
2. “That a 29-member Caretaker committee be constituted immediately to ensure that there is no vacuum in the leadership of the Labour Party.
3. “That the caretaker Committee be constituted with Senator Nenadi Usman and Sen. Darlington Nwaokocha as Chairman and Secretary respectively and other members representing various interests including the NLC, TUC, Senate, House of Representatives, House of Assembly and gubernatorial candidates in the last election.
4. “The caretaker Committee is to immediately ensure that the Ward, Local Government, State, and National Congresses and conventions of the Labour Party are held as soon as possible in accordance with the constitution of the Labour Party.
5. “The meeting commended His Excellency Dr. Alex Otti, OFR, for his leadership and for hosting the meeting.
“In the light of the foregoing, all members of the Labour Party are enjoined to support the Caretaker Committee to achieve its mandate”.
The Committee will include three Senators, four members of House of Representatives, three members from States House of Assembly, three members from the Nigeria Labour Congress, three members from the Trade Union Congress, three members from the Gubernatorial Candidates in the last election among others.
In a welcome address, the Governor of Abia State and host of the meeting, Alex Otti said that the meeting was convened to deal with the existential problems confronting the party and chart a way forward for the Party.
He noted that the Tenure of the National working Committee of the Party headed by Bar. Julius Abure had elapsed since 10th of June 2024 and called on all stakeholders of the party to join forces together to resolve every internal problems of the party.
Governor Otti said that the overall interest of all Labour Party Stakeholders is the survival of the party and not necessarily the composition of the NWC as far as it is constitutionally composed.
Also Speaking, the National Leader of the party and Presidential Candidate in the 2023 general election, Mr. Peter Obi said that all they are doing is to follow the guidelines established by law to save the party from total collapse.
According to Peter Obi, Labour Party being the third largest party in Nigeria has the potential of being the brightest if things are put in the right perspective and urged members of the party to give the caretaker Committee the needed support to enable it succeed in its assignments.
Responding on behalf of members of the Caretaker Committee, Senator Usman thanked the National Leader of the party Mr. Peter Obi and other stakeholders for finding them fit for the task and assured that they will justify the confidence reposed in them.
