Julius Abure, the troubled National Chairman of Labour Party, expressed on Thursday that the party suffered losses of valuable items and staff salaries due to the invasion by protesting Nigeria Labour Congress members.
Abure stated this in a release in Abuja issued by the National Publicity Secretary of LP, Obiora Ifoh.
The ongoing conflict between the NLC and the leadership of LP intensified on Wednesday as union members picketed the party's headquarters nationwide.
Their aim was to push for Abure's resignation.
The protesters were seen surrounding the LP national headquarters in Abuja on Wednesday and chanting supportive songs.
However, security officials stationed in the area prevented them from entering the party's office to maintain order.
But Abure claimed that they forcibly entered the offices, causing damage to valuable items and stealing money meant for staff salaries and other official purposes.
He said, “What we saw was a disgraceful display, an act of unruliness, an abuse of authority, and a violation of the law. NLC under Joe Ajaero is not exempt from the law and the law prohibits Ajaero and the NLC leadership from taking the law into their own hands.
“Where they besieged the office, broke the fence, destroyed the gates, unlawfully took possession of the secretariat and destroyed properties worth millions of naira. Properties stolen included money meant for the payment of salaries and other official purposes. This is regrettable. It is unacceptable.
‘I must state today that the leadership of NLC under Joe Ajaero is on the path to undermine the progress we have made in the 2023 general election. I had hoped that as a responsible trade union center, a responsible labor leader, he would have partnered with the Labour Party to work together to improve the country. Unfortunately and ironically, the NLC is the one waging war against the Labour Party.
“Over the past few years, NLC has been asserting ownership of the Labour Party. I want to make it clear that NLC does not own the Labour Party. The law is very clear that you cannot picket an organization where you do not have your workers.
“We are not employers of NLC and they do not have a legitimate reason to picket our office. We have no trade union dispute with NLC. This is clearly an abuse of authority and an abuse of the laws of the land.
“Let me also clarify here that the allegations they have been spreading that we are planning a secret convention are completely false. The NEC met in April 2023 in Asaba and granted permission for the convention to be held within one year. We have been planning for the convention since then. We have informed INEC as required by law. We have also notified all stakeholders, including the NLC.
“I have discussed the issue with Ajaero on several occasions. NLC has independently written to INEC on numerous occasions about the need to hold the convention. We are surprised that the same NLC is now opposing the convention. He has hidden motives and we will not let him take over the party.
