Joseph Bakare
The Labour Party (LP) has alleged that the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and Trade Union Congress (TUC) are planning to organise an illegal convention to upset the party in 2019 elections.
A statement issued yesterday in Abuja by the party’s Director of Publicity and Media Strategy, Yinka Richards, condemned in strongest term the move and dissociated itself from the inglorious and illegal attempt.
It said that by these meddlesome interlopers to create disaffection in the party under the guise of pursuing a court judgment, the INEC, NLC and TUC had mapped out their strategy to forcefully take over the party.
According to it, the judgment of the court did not ask the NLC and TUC to usurp the constitutionally-guaranteed power of the National Executive Committee (NEC) of the party to take decision on when to hold a national convention.
”The constitution of the Labour Party does not recognise or confer any status on the NLC and TUC. This was affirmed by INEC in a letter addressed to the President of NLC dated September 3, 2015 with reference No. INEC/DEPM/LP/16T/68.
“It also eulogised the performance of INEC and its leadership and urged them to disregard any unlawful assemblage in the guise of calling for national convention, which is not in line with the Labour Party’s constitution.
”By Section 221 of the 1999 Constitution (As amended), no association other than a political party shall canvass for votes for any candidate at an election or contribute to the funds of any political party.
“Under Section 80 of the Electoral Act, 2010, Labour Party is a corporate body with perpetual succession, with separate and distinct identity. The names and addresses of the national officers and constitution are registered with INEC,” the statement