Labour Party Faces Leadership Crisis as Kenneth Okonkwo Demands Chairman’s Resignation

Kenneth Okonkwo, a former chieftain of the Labour Party (LP), has joined calls for the immediate resignation of the party’s National Chairman, Julius Abure, amidst escalating internal strife.

The demand for Abure’s resignation followed a protest on Tuesday led by the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) national transition committee at the LP’s secretariat. Aduwaheed Omar, the Acting Chairman of the transition committee, and other members of the labour union gathered at the party’s headquarters, chanting solidarity songs and insisting on Abure’s immediate removal, citing the expiration of his tenure.

Security personnel promptly closed the gates upon the arrival of the NLC members, deploying teargas to disperse the protesters who demanded entry.

Kenneth Okonkwo, expressing his support for the call for Abure’s resignation, emphasized the need for him to vacate the LP’s National Headquarters to facilitate ongoing reconciliation efforts within the party.

In a statement posted via his social media handle, Okonkwo likened Abure’s occupancy to trespassing, stating that meaningful reconciliation could not proceed while there was an unresolved leadership dispute.

He stated, “The illegitimate Abure-led NWC of Labour Party cannot occupy the National Headquarters while reconciliation efforts are underway. Allowing this would condone their illegality. It’s like trespassing on land and arguing to stay until a case is resolved, or keeping a stolen car until trial ends. Abure should step down immediately for genuine reconciliation to commence.”

Meanwhile, Peter Obi, the LP’s presidential candidate in the last election, downplayed the party’s internal crises during his visit to the party’s headquarters in Abuja on Tuesday. He expressed commitment to fostering unity and initiating a peaceful reconciliation process among factions within the party.

Obi also addressed the leadership crisis involving Abure and the Lamidi Apapa faction, indicating that decisions would be made by the National Executive Council, himself, and Alex Otti, the Governor of Abia State.