The tenure of the extant National Chairman of the Labour Party, Julius Abure can only be validly terminated in 2028, a statement by the party has said.
The party said that those clamouring for the removal of Julius Abure as the National Chairman of the Party should note that the current national Working Committee of the party was duly constituted by a national convention and this cannot be terminated by any other means than a duly constituted national convention of the Labour Party come 2028.
National Publicity Secretary of the Party, Pastor Obiora Ifoh said this in statement made available to journalists in Abuja.
It argued that stakeholders meeting which drew strength from the assurances of INEC that Abure terms was done was not sufficient to teumcate the extant National working committee of the party.
The statement said, “They hinged their decision on the fact that INEC informed them that the present National Working Committee of the party no longer have a valid tenure after June, 2024 and because INEC also did not monitor the Nnewi Convention of the party held on the 26th March, 2024, the commission has ceased from transacting business with the party.
“In as much as we are not saying that Abure or his executive members must remain in office ad-infinitum, we would however, like to make it abundantly clear that this current National Working Committee is a product of a valid convention.
“It will take another convention in 2028 to enthrone a new executive.”
The party said it cannot reconcile that the champions of the convention at Nnewi are the ones underming the outcome of that convention.
“It is even surprising that some of the dramatis-personae who played key role in the success of the convention are now the ones leading the vanguard to exterminate the product of the convention.”
The statement further said that it was a mark of betrayal for the leaders of the party to fraternize and join force with the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to fight the party.
“What a shame, what a betrayal. Every Nigerian alive today knows the ignoble role INEC played in the 2023 general election and how the electoral will of the people were dashed.
“It amazes us that those who suffered from this INEC’s ineptitude in 2023, are now joining forces with the Commission against the Party leadership.
“For these leaders, there is no qualms to leverage on the INEC’s standpoint of illegality to attempt to seize the leadership of the party.
“We sincerely want to advise these our leaders that INEC is and can never be the model on which to launch their annexation agenda. The 2023 saga is still fresh. In one breath, we demonised INEC, in another second, you are fraternizing with them.
“Is it not paradoxical that some of these leaders who were victims of INEC’s dereliction and mismanagement of the 2023 general election are now the ones quoting INEC, and joining forces with it, just to victimize the leadership of the Labour Party.
“Is it not seemingly absurd that the INEC you are embracing today and welcoming with open arms is the same INEC, which betrayed us during the last election.
“I ask, where was this loyalty when INEC failed to protect the will of the people in 2023? Let us not be fooled, my friends. INEC has not changed, and come 2027, they will once again serve you the portage with the same dish.”
The statement said that the two leaders of the Pparty, the Presidential candidate of he party in the concluded 2023 presidential election Peter Obi and the Abia State governor, Alex Otti should be defending party instead of joining force to pull it down.
“The leadership of the Labour Party is however miffed by the actions of our leaders including our former presidential candidate Peter Obi and the only Labour Party governor, Dr. Alex Otti who should be defending the party at this auspicious and trying moment.
“They hinged their decision on the fact that INEC informed them that the present National Working Committee of the party no longer have a valid tenure after June, 2024 and because INEC also did not monitor the Nnewi convention of the party held on the 26th March, 2024, the commission has ceased from transacting business with the party,” the statement read.
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