The President of the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC), Comrade Joe Ajero, has blamed the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for the ongoing crisis within the Labour Party. Ajero made this statement on Monday during a courtesy visit from the Giant of Women in Media, led by Clementina Olomu, at his office in Abuja.
He asserted that INEC is intentionally refusing to recognize the Caretaker Committee established at the Umuahia meeting of Labour Party stakeholders, which included representation from the NLC.
Ajero noted that INEC was aware that the consent judgment issued prior to the 2023 general election involved the NLC and another group that accepted Julius Abure, whose tenure had expired. He emphasized that any Labour Party assembly not involving the NLC cannot function effectively due to the party’s constitutional procedures.
“INEC cannot play politics with the Labour Party. I can tell you that INEC knew this. At the Umuahia stakeholders’ meeting, the NLC was represented, and INEC understood that the consent judgment was between the NLC and another group that accepted Julius Abure. Any Labour Party assembly that does not include the NLC cannot work because they have a constitution guiding how things are done in the party,” he said.
He criticized INEC for facilitating the consent judgment and then failing to adhere to the outcomes of the Umuahia meeting, accusing the commission of political maneuvering by refusing to recognize the committee.
Ajero continued, “Abure and his group were invited, along with all governorship candidates and the 2023 presidential candidate, as well as members of the National Assembly, senators, and House of Representatives. So, who is INEC to say no? It suggests that INEC is playing politics with the Labour Party.”
He called for INEC to avoid distorting Nigeria’s electoral processes and questioned who they were waiting to recognize before acknowledging the meeting. He added that the Labour Party has institutional membership that cannot be disregarded.
Regarding the October 1st celebration, the NLC President stated, “The government said the NLC does not celebrate October 1st. We don’t go to the stadium or hold a march past; it is just like any other October 1st for us. We listen to our leaders and assess whether they have focused on both political and economic independence, analyzing what the country has achieved 64 years after independence.”
He compared the current sentiment towards Independence Day to the enthusiasm previously shown for Empire Day during British rule, prompting Nigerians, particularly those who experienced pre- and post-independence, to reflect on the significance of the day.