‘We were not consulted’ — NLC demands ratification power of LP’s caretaker committee

• Julius Abure and Okafor, factional chairs of the party, had rejected calls for the stakeholders meeting

The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) political commission has given a cautious nod to the Labour Party’s (LP) national caretaker committee, but its legitimacy remains a contentious issue.

Theophilus Ndubuaku, acting chairman of the commission, voiced his misgivings in response to the appointment of Nenadi Usman, a former senator, to helm a 29-member committee.

The caretaker committee’s formation on Wednesday, following a party stakeholders’ meeting convened by Alex Otti, Abia’s governor and the party’s highest-ranking elected official, has sparked controversy.

Callistus Okafor, a factional LP national chair, swiftly denounced the Usman-led committee as unlawful, demanding that Otti produce an INEC acknowledgement letter for the meeting.

Reacting to the development, Ndubuaku stated the commission’s exclusion from the selection process.

He noted that it played no role in choosing the caretaker committee members, particularly critical positions like chairman and secretary, which raises questions about the committee’s credibility.

Ndubuaku said the commission initiated the push for the removal of the Abure-led NWC, “absolutely with our own resources and virtually without help from our elected and relevant leaders of the political class in the LP.”

“Even though the commission and its NTC were not consulted, the commission believes that Peter Obi and Alex Otti are reasonable leaders who desire the unity, harmony and rancour-free cohesion of the Labour Party,” the statement reads.

“We demand that the commission and the Trade Union Congress (TUC) be given the right to ratify the appointment of the chairman and secretary of the caretaker committee, as well as the composition of the remaining proposed 27 members of the committee.

“We also believe that if there is a need to expand the proposed National Caretaker Committee beyond their present proposed 29-member mark, they will do so.

“That will demonstrate that they are listening leaders who understand that every stakeholder, especially critical blocs like the NLC, TUC and other entities of our party should be carried along to have a sense of belonging for our overall membership growth, national expansion and progress.”