The conflict between the Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC and the Labour Party, LP, took another turn on Wednesday as members of the NLC picketed the headquarters of the party in the Utako area of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, Abuja.
The union members led by the acting Chairman of the Political Commission of the Congress, THEOPHILUS NDUBUAKU, demanded the immediate resignation of the national chairman of the party, JULIUS ABURE on the ground that he was not properly elected as the national chairman of the Labour Party.
The NLC political commission chairman also claimed that the planned convention of the party under the leadership of ABURE is an illegal one.
The planned convention which is said to be scheduled to hold at Umuahia, the Abia State capital on March 27, was alleged by the NLC to be aimed at re-electing ABURE as the sole administrator of the Labour Party, with concerns of secrecy surrounding the event.
The NLC are demanding the formation of a caretaker transition committee to organise a legitimate and all-inclusive national convention for the party.
Although no official of the party is at the headquarters, the labour leaders have occupied the premises of the party as officers and men of the Nigeria police force keep an eye on the secretariat to avoid vandalization.
The union members who have remained at the Labour Party headquarters, are chanting songs against ABURE, accusing party chairman of embezzling funds.
The Labour Party leadership, has however, in an earlier statement strongly opposed the directive, alleging that it was driven by Ajaero’s supposed desire to become the next national chairman of the party.
It also denied any financial impropriety, insisting that the party is open to forensic audit of its accounts.
The Labour Party advised the NLC and its commission to focus only on its statutory responsibilities of defending the workers and the workers’ right.