The Julius Abure-led faction of the Labour Party (LP) has returned him as the national chairman of the party and seven others to the National Working Committee (NWC) of the party.
This is as the Apapa faction of the LP has dragged Abure and others to court over a ‘shabby’ convention in Nnewi, the commercial town of Anambra State.
No fewer than 14 NWC members were dropped – either for non-performance, or having served out the allowed number of years provided by the party’s constitution.
The immediate past Asst National Chairman (South East), Innocent Sunday Okeke (Agumba), stepped down after he had served out the allowable two terms.
Also, a former National Organising Secretary of the LP, Clement Ojukwu, is now the deputy national chairman.
Sadly, the party’s 2023 presidential candidate, Peter Obi, Governor Alex Otti of Abia State, as well as senators Victor Umeh and Tony Nwoye were conspicuously absent at the convention.
Although Governor Alex Otti sent his deputy, it was not clear why the key party members of the fold shunned the convention.
The Anambra State chairman of a faction of the party, Peter Okoye, in reaction, said “this is not a convention.”
According to him, “We are on top of the matter. It’s purely illegal.”
He said, “There was no ward congress, no local government congresses, no state congress. And now, who and who elected the delegates that are electing the NWC members?
“The NLC is not there, TUC is not there, the owners of the party and members of the NEC and BoT members were not there too.”
Okoye added, “The matter is coming up on 4th of April, 2024 for hearing in court.”
It was further learnt that thugs were deployed by yet-to-be-ascertained groups or persons to disrupt the exercise.
