The Nigeria Labour Congress national transition committee took a bold step on Tuesday, descending on the Labour Party headquarters in Abuja to demand the immediate resignation of National Chairman Julius Abure.
News About Nigeria reports that the storm was led by Acting Chairman Aduwaheed Omar, and the labour union members converged on the secretariat, chanting solidarity songs and calling for Abure’s exit.
Their demand was based on the expiration of Abure’s tenure as party chairman, which they argued had reached its end.
As the protesters arrived at the party headquarters, security officials swiftly shut the gates, attempting to barricade them from entering the premises.
Undeterred, the protesters tried to force their way in, but the police intervened, firing teargas to disperse the crowd.
The protesters refused to back down, shouting incessantly at the security personnel to “open the gate”.
The standoff continued, with the protesters demanding Abure’s resignation and the security forces trying to maintain order.
The situation indicated the deepening crisis within the Labour Party, with the NLC transition committee seeking to take control.
However, the protest and demand for Abure’s resignation underscored the power struggle and leadership crisis gripping the party.
As the drama unfolded, it became clear that the fate of the Labour Party and its leadership hung in the balance, with the NLC transition committee determined to chart a new course.
In March, the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) Political Commission asked Julius Abure to, as a matter of urgency, resign as the National Chairman of the Labour Party (LP), and demanded the constitution of a caretaker transition committee to organise a legitimate and all-inclusive National Convention of the party.
They accused Abure of running as the “sole administrator” of the party, as clearly shown in his attempt to outwit organised labour and conduct a national convention.
