Rival LP Leaders Unite in Condemning NLC's Picketing of Party Headquarters

The Labour Party, marred by internal leadership disputes between the Julius Abure and Lamidi Apapa camps, found a rare point of agreement as both factions jointly condemned the recent picketing of the party's national headquarters in Abuja by members of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC).

On Wednesday, workers, barred from entering the party office, gathered around the premises protesting against Labour Party Chairman, Julius Abure, whom they accused of financial misconduct.

While the Abure and Apapa camps continue to clash over party leadership, they stand united in denouncing the NLC's actions at the party headquarters.

In response to the NLC's picketing, Labour Party Legal Adviser, Kayode Edun, criticized the union members, asserting that they had overstepped their mandate.

"These individuals styling themselves as the NLC Political Commission are exceeding their mandate. It is regrettable that they have allowed greed and undue ambition to overshadow the NLC's mission," Edun stated during an interview on Channels Television's Politic Today.

Edun particularly targeted Joe Ajaero, accusing him of attempting to impose himself on the Labour Party leadership. He emphasized that party membership is individual-based and rebuked Ajaero's purported actions as detrimental to the integrity of the NLC.

Similarly, from the Apapa camp, National Publicity Secretary Abayomi Arabambi condemned the NLC's alleged bid to forcibly take control of the Labour Party. Arabambi accused NLC President Joe Ajaero of harboring presidential ambitions and exploiting the party's internal crisis for personal gain.

"We reject the forceful takeover of our party by the NLC, where they intend to install Ladi Ilia as acting national chairman and Kennet Okonkwo, a lawyer and Nollywood actor, as acting national secretary," Arabambi declared.

He further criticized Ajaero for inconsistency, pointing out Ajaero's contradictory actions of initially expressing confidence in Abure, only to later issue a vote of no confidence against him.

Arambambi stressed that the Labour Party's leadership dispute is an internal matter between the Abure and Apapa factions, urging the NLC to refrain from interference.

Meanwhile, the Labour Party, under Abure's leadership, refuted allegations of financial misconduct and reiterated its willingness to undergo a forensic audit of its accounts.

In summary, the convergence of views between the rival LP factions on the issue of the NLC's intervention underscores the complexities of Nigerian politics, where adversaries can momentarily unite against perceived external threats. As the internal power struggle within the Labour Party persists, the focus remains on resolving disputes within the party without external interference, ensuring stability and accountability in Nigeria's political landscape.