• Delegates arrive Nnewi
The stage is set for the National Convention of the Labour Party (LP) today.
From yesterday, delegates have been trooping into Nnewi, Anambra State, for the exercise.
The convention holding at the Grand Seasons Hotel, Nnewi from 10am.
Thr Deputy National Chairman of the party, Ayo Olorunfemi, said there would be no postponement.
The Julius Abure-led National Working Committee (NWC) is proceeding with the convention, despite stiff opposition from the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the House of Representatives caucus of the party.
Labour leaders last night kept sealed lips on their next line of action.
Some of the NLC leaders contacted last night did not pick their calls.
The NLC, founding fathers of the party and labour veterans have called for the resignation of the National Chairman, Abure.
The NLC also called for the postponement of the national convention and the setting up of a caretaker transition committee to organise what it described as a legitimate convention.
NLC not card-carrying members of our party, LP tells Labour
The battle for supremacy between the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the interim leadership of the LP, led by Julius Abure, escalated yesterday.
Ahead of its national convention holding in Nnewi, Anambra State, today, the chairman of the chapter,
Ugochukwu Emeh, declared that members of the umbrella union are not registered party members.
He also said that those instigating crisis to tear the party apart would fail.
The chairman spoke on the preparation for the convention, which was shifted from Umuahia, Abia State to Nnewi, few days ago.
There are speculations that another bone of contection in the party is acrimony between the followers of its former presidential candidate, Mr Peter Obi, and loyalists of Abia State Governor Alex Otti over who should be the party’s leader.
However, the Publicity Secretary of the party in Anambra State, Ikenga Tochukwu, declined comment on the issue.
Sources said Governor Charles Soludo and the police command were working closely to make sure the convention would not hold.
The governor’s Chief Press Secretary, Chris Aburime, also declined comment.
A top politician, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, said Soludo was angry that he was not contacted before the venue of the convention was shifted to his state.
However, the LP state chairman said, the party was ready for the convention at Nnewi.
He maintained that NLC members were not registered and card carrying members of the party
Emeh said: “They said they own the party without their names in the register. Some of them are paid. They are being instigated, but they will not succeed.
“I know we are working well with the NLC in Anambra State and I don’t think they will join in trying to cause confusion in the party.
“NLC are workers. We are not envisaging any problem during the national convention. If it is only the workers, we are going to sort it out with them. The enemies are from outside trying to cause confusion in our great party.” NATION
SOURCE: Hardcore News