The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has thrown its support behind the 29-man caretaker committee established by Abia State Governor, Alex Otti, the Labour Party’s 2023 presidential candidate, Peter Obi, and other party stakeholders. This endorsement was confirmed by the Deputy President of the NLC Political Commission, Prof. Theophilus Ndubuaku.
The committee’s formation follows an enlarged stakeholders’ meeting in Umuahia, convened by Otti to address the ongoing leadership crisis within the Labour Party. Notably absent from the meeting were National Chairman Julius Abure, Secretary Umar Farouk, and National Youth Leader Kennedy Ahanotu, who are aligned with the party’s National Working Committee (NWC).
The NWC, led by Abure, has rejected the formation of the caretaker committee, calling it “null and void.” According to a statement by the party’s National Publicity Secretary, Obiora Ifoh, Governor Otti lacked the authority to preside over such a meeting, claiming it extended beyond his jurisdiction as a state leader.
In contrast, Ndubuaku emphasized that the NLC is fully behind the caretaker committee and praised the efforts being made to resolve the leadership crisis. He stated that both Peter Obi and Alex Otti had consulted with the NLC before establishing the committee, rejecting claims that the union was sidelined in the decision-making process.
“We applaud the strides being made to end the crisis and reposition the Labour Party,” Ndubuaku said, adding that the NLC’s political commission remains actively involved and will play a key role in mobilizing workers for the party.
Ndubuaku expressed confidence that the Nenadi Usman-led caretaker committee would work harmoniously with the party’s National Transition Committee. He also clarified that members of the Abure-led NWC are free to contest their positions once the party’s internal processes are underway.
Efforts to obtain a response from Abure’s camp were unsuccessful, though an anonymous NWC member criticized the formation of the caretaker committee, stating that Obi and Otti lacked the authority to make such decisions, which they said violate the party’s constitution.
