From Adanna Nnamani, Abuja
The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has urged Julius Abure to respect the recent Supreme Court ruling that nullified his tenure as National Chairman of the Labour Party (LP), warning that any defiance of the judgment amounts to a grave affront to the rule of law.
In a statement signed by NLC President, Joe Ajaero, the congress condemned Abure’s rejection of the April 4, Supreme Court judgement, which declared the expiration of his tenure and invalidated the leadership of his National Working Committee.
The NLC said Abure’s continued release of press statements asserting that his leadership of the party remains intact is “utter impunity” and “a reckless assault against the grain of constitutionality.”
The NLC called on all Nigerian workers and members of the Labour Party to be alert, warning that it would no longer tolerate “the antics of inconsequential characters like Abure” and vowed to resist any attempt to undermine the country’s legal institutions.
Additionally, the Congress called on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to comply with the Supreme Court’s judgement by removing Abure’s name and that of his committee from all official platforms and records.
It also urged the remaining members of the party’s National Executive Committee (NEC) to appoint an interim leadership and convene a Special National Convention in accordance with the LP Constitution and the consent judgment.
NLC further called on security agencies, particularly the Nigeria Police Force and the State Security Service, to assist in the enforcement of the Supreme Court ruling.
“By this communication, we urge every worker in Nigeria, all genuine members of the Labour Party and all lovers of democracy to be on standby to once again peacefully repossess all offices of the Labour Party nationwide. The leadership of the NLC Political Commission and other concerned Labour Party stakeholders will issue necessary directives to this effect,” the statement added.