We only recognise Peter Obi as Labour Party presidential candidate – NLC

 

.Says we’ll answer those who have held Nigeria down in 2023 polls

AKOR SYLVESTER-Abuja

Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has disassociated itself from the factional leadership of the Labour Party (LP) and the presidential candidate it produced for the 2023 general elections, saying it only recognises the Labour Party that elected Mr. Peter Obi as the presidential candidate.

The Congress which claimed ownership of the party, warned the faction that produced one Calistus Okafor to stop distracting Nigerians and the present progress of the party.

It also issued a threat to the people it described as “those who have held Nigeria down”, saying Nigerian workers will punish them with their Permanent Voters’ Cards (PVCs) at the polls, come 2023 general elections.

In a statement signed by the NLC President, Ayuba Wabba, maintained that with its credible candidate of the person of Mr. Obi, the party would shock Nigerians in 2023 presidential election.

The statement made available to newsmen in Abuja reads in part:  “It  has  been  brought  to  our  attention  that  a  so-called  faction  of  the Labour Party recently conducted what we  can describe as a  “beer parlour” presidential primary and supposedly elected a presidential candidate. Nothing can be more spurious, hilarious and ridiculous!

“There  is  only  one  Labour  Party  in  Nigeria.  For  the  purpose  of  public education  and clarity,  we  will  take  a  recourse  to  history.

“The  Labour Party is  the creation and offspring  of the Nigeria Labour  Congress (NLC). The decision to give birth to the Labour Party was taken by the statutory organs of the NLC and affirmed by the decision of the National Executive Council of Congress at its meeting in Bauchi in 2003 when it approved the formation of the Party for Social Democracy (PSD).

“It was at the inaugural convention of PSD in 2004 that NLC decided to change the name of PSD to the Labour Party and it has remained so since then.  The Labour Party has since then gone through both bright and blight times. Yet, the ownership of the Party by the Nigeria Labour Congress and Trade Union Congress has never been in doubt. As a matter of fact, the  original  certificate  of  the  registration  of  the  Labour  Party  is domiciled in the national headquarters of the Nigeria Labour Congress.

“Also, a  Federal High Court judgement by Justice G.O.  Kolawole in March 2018 clearly establishes that Labour Party belongs to workers. The point is that the Labour Party is what the Nigeria Labour Congress and the Trade Union Congress (TUC) say it is.

“The leadership of the NLC and TUC recognize the leadership of the Labour Party led by Barr. Julius Abure,  a  former  trade  union  leader  and  workers  are  part  of  the leadership. The NLC and TUC are aware of only one presidential primary which was held in Asaba, Delta State on 30th May 2022 and produced HE Peter Obi as its presidential candidate and standard bearer. the Labour Party leadership led by the Chairman, Barr. Julius Abure and the National Secretary, Alhaji Farouk Umaru Ibrahim.

“They are the only Labour Party officials whose details are provided on INEC website. The  leadership  of  the  NLC  and  TUC  gave  our  full  support  to  the processes that produced HE Peter Obi as the presidential candidate of the Labour  Party.

“Nigerians especially workers, youths  and women attended  the  presidential  primary  of  the  Labour  Party  in  their thousands and were thoroughly satisfied with the outcome of the same.

“We understand that with the current repositioning of the Labour Party as  the  party  for  workers,  youths,  students,  women,  traders,  farmers, professionals,  physically disabled persons, the unemployed and the downtrodden,  the  Labour  Party  has  become  the  albatross  of establishment political parties who have suddenly become jittery and are devising all forms of conspiracy theories and subterfuge to distract the Labour Party from ongoing mass mobilization efforts for sweeping electoral victory in the 2023 general elections,”.

It stated that “the recruitment of one Calistus Okafor, a mischievous petty trader, to advance their evil plot of distraction is a new low and should be disregarded by the public. This, therefore, serves as a public disclaimer on Mr. Calistus Okafor. We warn the general public to steer clear of Calistus Okafor and characters who might want to  cash  in on the popularity  of the Labour Party to hoodwink, extort and swindle unsuspecting members of the public.

“We, hereby, direct Nigerian workers and all the structures of the NLC and TUC to completely disregard the impersonation by Calistus Okafor who has no locus standi to speak for Labour Party.

“Workers and millions of members of Labour Party who desire a New Nigeria should regard tantrums by characters like Calistus Okafor as a mere storm in a tea cup. Truth is that the bull has already left the barn! Nigerian workers, youths, students, women, professionals, the disabled,  and the unemployed have  embraced  the  Labour  Party  as  the  political  vehicle  of  the downtrodden, the political alternative and a voice for the re-start of a genuine  journey  of  national  development.

“There  is  no  amount  of political devilry that can stop us! Forward ever!! Backward Never!!!”.

The congress further encouraged workers, youths, women, traders, farmers, professionals and all who seek the survival of Nigeria to continue to register for their Permanent  Voters’  Cards  (PVC)  and  to  safeguard  their  PVCs.