Our Reporter, Abuja
The rift between the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Labour Party (LP) appeared to have deepened as members of the NLC, on Wednesday, marched on the national secretariat of the party in the Utako area of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja.
The NLC members were led by the acting Chairman of the Political Commission of the Congress, Theophilus Ndubuaku, and demanded the immediate resignation of Julius Abure as the national chairman of the party on the ground that he was not properly elected as the national chairman of the Labour Party.
The NLC political commission chairman also alleged that the planned convention of the party under the leadership of Abure is an illegal one.
The convention which is said to be scheduled to hold at Umuahia, the Abia State capital on March 27, was alleged by the NLC to be geared towards one outcome, which is re-electing Abure as the sole administrator of the Labour Party, even as there are concerns about issues of transparency surrounding the event.
The NLC are demanding the formation of a caretaker transition committee to organise a legitimate and all-inclusive national convention for the party.
Although no official of the party was reported to be at at the secretariat, the labour leaders have occupied the premises of the party as officers and men of the Nigeria police force keep an eye on the secretariat to avoid vandalization.
The union members who have remained at the Labour Party headquarters, are chanting songs against Abure, accusing the party chairman of embezzlement of funds.
However, the Police prevented the protesting workers from entering the party Secretariat.