- The LP spokesperson dismissed Okonkwo’s claims, saying he’s “living in bondage.”
- He added that his iconic film role still clouds his judgement
The Labour Party has refuted allegations that its national chairman, Julius Abure, is furthering the interests of the All Progressive Congress (APC).
On October 10, Kenneth Okonkwo stated on Arise TV that the APC would select the Labour Party’s 2027 presidential candidate with Abure at the helm.
Okonkwo described the Labour Party as a “housemaid” to the APC, claiming the APC decides the LP’s presidential candidate.
“I can tell you that Labour Party as presently constituted is now a housemaid to APC. The 2027 presidential candidate of the Labour Party will be decided on the table of APC,” Okonkwo said.
He added, “We know their moves. They are meeting the people now who help people to win cases in court— every ticket in the LP is reserved for APC.”
However, Labour Party’s national publicity secretary, Obiora Ifoh, countered these claims as “calculated attempts to distract” the party’s leadership.
Ifoh criticized Theophilus Ndubuaku, acting chairman of the Nigeria Labour Congress’s (NLC) political commission, for spreading baseless claims about the LP’s allegiance to APC.
“I must state clearly that the LP has been and is still critical of APC more than NLC,” the statement reads.
The Labour Party has consistently opposed the APC, particularly regarding workers’ rights.
“Today, Nigerian workers are oppressed, the economy is not working, there are unfair practices against workers, and nobody speaks for the oppressed workers in Nigeria, except the current leadership of the party.”
Under Abure’s leadership, the Labour Party achieved unprecedented success.
“For the first time, the leadership of the party under Barrister Julius Abure has been able to record unprecedented achievements.”
The party boasts significant electoral victories.
“Today, we can boast that the Labour Party won a majority of votes in the 2023 presidential election and produced a governor, 8 senators, 35 House of Representatives members, and several other members of the House of Assembly across the country.”
Since the 2023 elections, the Labour Party has been a strong opposition force.
“From the 2023 general election till now, Labour Party has been a very vibrant and strong opposition party to this present government.”
Ifoh emphasized that accusing Abure of working with the APC is mischievous.
“For any person to say that that leadership is working for APC-led government, it can only be mischief carried too far and a calculated attempt to distract the leadership of the party.”
He suggested the Nigeria Labour Congress is actually aligned with the APC.
“If there is any organisation that is working for the current government in power, we can assume without hesitation that it is the Nigeria Labour Congress.”
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