The Labour Party (LP) has strongly refuted accusations made by the Nigeria Labour Congress Political Commission (NLC-PC), which claimed that the leadership of the party, under Julius Abure, is acting in the interests of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
In a statement released on Friday in Abuja, the National Publicity Secretary of the LP, Obiora Ifoh, addressed the allegations, highlighting that they emerged following a landmark court ruling affirming Abure’s position as the national chairman of the Labour Party.
Ifoh stated, “Some individuals, including former Nollywood actor Kenneth Okonkwo and the acting chairman of the NLC Political Commission, Prof. Theophilus Ndubuaku, have attempted to promote the narrative that the Labour Party is working for the APC due to our success in court cases.” He characterized these claims as misleading and a deliberate effort to tarnish the party’s image.
He emphasized the LP’s critical stance towards the APC, stating, “The LP has been and remains more critical of the APC than the NLC. We maintain that the NLC has failed the Nigerian workers across the board. Today, Nigerian workers are oppressed, the economy is struggling, and there is little to no advocacy for workers’ rights, except from the current leadership of the Labour Party.”
Ifoh highlighted the accomplishments of the Abure-led leadership, noting that the party achieved a significant electoral victory in the 2023 presidential elections, securing a majority of votes, along with the election of a governor, eight senators, and 35 House of Representatives members, among others.
He declared, “Since the 2023 general election, the Labour Party has been a vibrant and strong opposition force against this government.” He firmly stated that it is the LP that has been consistently critical of the current administration, contrasting this with the NLC’s position.
Ifoh concluded by asserting that any claims suggesting that the LP leadership is colluding with the APC are unfounded and represent a misguided attempt to undermine the party’s credibility. He suggested that if any organization is aiding the current government, it would be the Nigeria Labour Congress itself.