28 Labour Party State Chairmen Recover Party’s National Secretariat in Abuja After “Overpowering” Policemen
It was a wild drama on Friday as 36 state chairmen of the Labour Party (LP) in Abuja forced their way into the party’s national secretariat ahead of a meeting with Julius Abure, the embattled national chairman of the party.
The delegation that was in Abuja to show their support for the LP’s executives, who have been at the centre of conflicting court orders during their tenure, was earlier prevented entry into the premises by a detachment of policemen allegedly deployed by the FCT Police Command.
Meanwhile, Ejes Gist News had earlier reported that the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), on Thursday, passed a confidence vote on the embattled national chairman of the Labour Party, Julius Abure, declaring that he is still the chairman of the party.
Abure remains Labour Party Chairman—NLC
The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), on Thursday, passed a confidence vote on the embattled national chairman of the Labour Party, Julius Abure, declaring that he is still the chairman of the party.
In a statement issued by its president, Comrade Joe Ajaero, the NLC said it viewed the alleged decapitation of the leadership of the Labour Party with “great suspicion,” which cannot be far from the intent to weaken the party from within or distract it from its fight to reclaim its victories at the polls.
He said the grounds for suspending the party chairman and others, either in the courtroom or outside it, are not there, even as mischievous forces orchestrate evil, adding that they remain executives of the party, and he also urged the court to review its decision forthwith.
The statement read: “We are alarmed by the decision of Justice Hamza Muazu of the High Court in the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, via ex parte to suspend from office the National Chairman, the National Secretary, the National Treasurer, and the Publicity Secretary of the Labour Party, Messrs. Julius Abure, Alhaji Farouk Ibrahim, Clement Ojukwu, and Opara, respectively, on unfounded, unproven, and highly speculative and malicious allegations of corruption, perjury, and forgery by elements whose interest in the party could best be described as doubtful or dubious,
The court order, according to Justice Hamza Muazu, is to subsist “pending the hearing and determination of a motion on notice for an interlocutory injunction.”
“The ruling was the sequel to a motion ex parte filed along with the substantive suit by eight so-called aggrieved members of the party, including the Chairman of the Party in Abure’s Ward.
“We view the decapitation of the leadership of the party with great suspicion, which cannot be far from the intent to weaken the party from within or distract it from its fight to reclaim its victories at the polls.”
“In light of this, we urge the courts to exercise the utmost caution in entertaining frivolous suits and spurious prayers from mercenary party members, as they are capable of compromising the integrity of the courts.”
“We similarly join the league of those who canvass against the casual use of exparte in light of the grievousness of the injuries they quite often inflict.”
“We also note that this existing court order does not only violate the principle of presumption of innocence, a cardinal pillar of our judicial system, it is an affront to justice itself.” We find it curious that while ex-convicts continue to occupy ample space in the public service or space without let or hindrance, those yet to be found guilty are already being harangued or hounded and are being barred from holding office.
“Finally, the continued relevance of our courts cannot be divorced from the quality of their decisions or rulings.” Accordingly, our courts are advised to refrain from taking decisions that portray them as having descended into the arena, or worse, make them pocketable.
“On our part, the grounds for suspending the quartet, either in the courtroom or outside it, are not there, even as mischievous forces orchestrate evil.” The quartet, therefore, remains the executive branch of the party. In light of the foregoing, we invite the honourable court to review its decision forthwith.
“On the next adjourned date, we are going to be in court in our numbers to listen to the judge.”
