LP, NLC: made for crises - The Nation Newspaper (2025)

April 13, 2025 by barometer

After the Supreme Court virtually washed its hands off intraparty crises, particularly leadership and nomination struggles, the Labour Party (LP) and its parent body, the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), have renewed their bitter and acrimonious contest for the soul and body of a party which has served as a special multipurpose vehicle for many political candidates and office seekers. The summary of the judgement is that the courts have no jurisdiction to determine who leads a political party. It is an extreme judgement not backed by logic or the spirit of the law; but as at today, it has become the regnant wisdom in political organisations. Before the judgement, the LP was embroiled in a two-way contest for its soul. After the judgement, the contest has become a hydra-headed and bitter and ferocious three-way battle between the factional LP leadership led by Lamidi Apapa, which was earlier elbowed out by NLC toughs, the intransigent current leadership led by Julius Abure, and the usurper leadership led by caretaker Nenadi Usman, a former Finance minister conjured out of nowhere by NLC leaders to head the party.

Pursuant to the Supreme Court judgement of two weeks ago that set aside the recognition of the Abure-led leadership of the LP by the Court of Appeal on the basis of lack of jurisdiction, there have been two interpretations of the judgement since it failed to clarify which leadership is recognised. The NLC claims the judgement automatically recognises the Mrs Usman-led caretaker leadership of the party. This was pure inference. The court made no such declarations. The second interpretation suggests that since the court offers no categorical recognition, the status quo remains until another convention is held sometime in 2026, implying that Mr Abure remains party chairman. But there is yet another tangential interpretation by the Mr Apapa-led, but almost inexistent, LP faction. He claims that since the court implied that the status quo should remain, and since the only known status quo he knows is his own leadership, then it is okay to lay claim to the party leadership. He is being theoretical.

Clearly the three factions will have to fight it out one way or the other. In March 2024, the NLC bullied its way into the party headquarters, ransacking the secretariat and defying the law and resorting to self-help. But in the end, the labour union neither secured the backing of the law nor got the recognition of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). Stuck in the middle of nowhere, the NLC gradually crawled back into its lair and waited for court arbitration. That search for arbitration led the combatants to the Supreme Court which paradoxically returned the contenders to square one. Determining what square one is in the LP has become the most confounding puzzle. Mr Apapa’s claim is of course opportunistic. He insists that as the most senior Deputy National Chairman of the party, he was assuming leadership consequent upon the court judgement, and would summon the National Working Committee meeting of the party for Monday, preparatory to planning a convention.

Read Also: LP battle shifts to Anambra

Mr Abure, on the other hand, continues to hold on to the party’s leadership position while threatening to impose stiff sanctions on anyone attempting to undermine the party. He specifically lambasted former LP presidential candidate Peter Obi and Abia State governor Alex Otti for flouting party rules and regulations, thus undermining the peace, unity and integrity of the party. Mr Abure and some members of the party’s National Executive Committee (NEC) affirmed their control of the party organs also based on their interpretation of the Supreme Court judgement. But confident that it had the upper hand by virtue of the same court judgement, the Mrs Usman-led caretaker committee summoned the party’s factional NEC to a meeting at the Transcorp Hilton, thereby avoiding the ugly scenario of having to physically battle for the keys of the party’s headquarters. Nothing of substance was discussed at the meeting regarding the leadership and unity of the party.

With the case now out of the courts, it is going to be a test of wills between the three factions of the party. The propaganda war has already begun. Combatants are testing the waters by holding meetings, making declarations, and watching how the pendulum swings. The situation is not helped by the bullying tactics of the NLC which conflates unionism with political partisanship. NLC chairman Joe Ajaero worsens the problem by his impetuousness and cantankerousness. More damningly, there is no one of diplomatic stature in the party, not Mr Obi, not Dr Otti, not Olumide Akpata, not anyone as a matter of fact with the leverage and negotiating skills to bring all contending parties to the table to hammer out a deal. Everyone is busy threatening everyone. While Alhaji Apapa is scavenging for political carrion on the sidelines, and Mr Abure faces existential battle and is spitting fire and venom against usurpers, Mrs Usman is attempting to build something on nothing in alliance with the tactless Mr Obi and the guileless Dr Otti. The LP will for the foreseeable future be locked in a stalemate until someone in the party wakes up to wisdom. But finding that one wise man in that ill-fated party is akin to searching for a needle in a haystack.

TAGS:

LP

Abuja doctor reveals a unique way to permanently cure weak erection, small and shameful manhood, and infertility issues without side effects within a short period. Click now to see!!

FREE REPORT!!! Exposes The Hidden Secrets On How To Make Your Gbola Bigger,And Correct Weak Erection.Plus How To Treat Quick Ejaculation And Low Libido.Hurry! Click Here Now!! To See The FREE REPORT!!!