Labour Party Crisis Deepens as NLC Petitions INEC, Plans Statewide Takeover; Obi’s Campaign Chief Resigns

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Labour Party Crisis Deepens as NLC Petitions INEC, Plans Statewide Takeover; Obi’s Campaign Chief Resigns

The internal crisis rocking the Labour Party (LP) has taken a dramatic turn as the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) formally petitioned the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to revoke its recognition of the Julius Abure-led leadership.

In a bold move, the NLC also announced plans to launch a surprise takeover of the party’s secretariats across states, many of which are currently under the control of Abure loyalists.

Adding to the party’s woes, Oseloka Obaze, a key LP figure in Anambra State and former campaign manager to Peter Obi during the 2023 presidential election, has officially resigned from the party. His departure is a major blow to the party’s credibility amid ongoing internal wrangling.

NLC President Joe Ajaero, while addressing journalists in Abuja, confirmed that the Congress has written to INEC regarding the lingering chairmanship dispute and stated that a coordinated takeover of LP offices would be discussed at the upcoming National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting of the NLC.

The leadership crisis stems from the LP convention held in Nnewi, Anambra State, which the NLC rejected, insisting that Abure’s tenure as national chairman had ended and calling for the immediate exit of the current National Working Committee (NWC) based on a prior agreement with the party.

According to Ajaero, INEC was aware of this agreement and the NLC is determined to enforce it.

“I don’t know whether the press release told you the date we are doing that. So, if I update you on the mobilisation, the essence of surprise will not be there.

“Ordinarily, the day we issued the statement, we would have said we are taking it over tomorrow. But we asked every worker, if you check that statement, to be on standby. And we are working on it.”

“I have even written to INEC and on the day of our NEC meeting, every other thing will be decided there. And we’re going to do that, you know, because that’s the way it is. Labour Party is an institutional party, either in Nigeria or anywhere, owned by the trade unions, anywhere in the world.”

Ajaero strongly condemned what he called attempts by individuals to hijack the party, saying:

“So, for anybody to come, for any charlatan to come, to say he’s now the owner of Labour Party, he is a joker. Of course, you know that person, it won’t work.

“You know, you can’t be calling Labour Party without the trade unions; you are talking of empty shelves. Labour Party is all about the trade union movement. The issue of taking over is not maybe, one off. We will decide where we will operate.”

“The certificate of the Labour Party is in this office. And those threatening that they have gone to swear an affidavit, if we get them, that would amount to deliberate plagiarism.”

Meanwhile, Oseloka Obaze cited the unresolved leadership crisis and irregularities in the recent LP governorship primary in Anambra as reasons for his resignation. In a letter dated April 6, 2025, addressed to the LP Chairman in Ochuche Ward 406, Ogbaru Local Government Area, Obaze expressed dismay over the conduct of the April 5 primary.

“The processes, conduct and outcome of the Labour Party governorship primary held on April 5, 2025 in Awka, were fraught with outright irregularities, bothering on fraud and criminality.

“It was not in tandem with either the party’s Constitution and espoused core values or true tenets of democracy.

“As such, I hereby disassociate myself henceforth from the Labour Party.”

As tensions mount, the future of the Labour Party hangs in the balance, with the NLC poised to reclaim control and high-profile figures like Obaze jumping ship.