The Labour Party (LP) has berated its House of Representatives caucus for calling for a shift in the party’s planned national convention, saying the caucus has failed to be true ambassadors of the people.
The National Publicity Secretary of the party, Obiora Ifoh, on Monday, in a statement, also warned the lawmakers to respect party supremacy or face disciplinary action.
Daily Trust reports that the House of Representatives Caucus of the LP called for the postponement of the national convention of the party earlier scheduled to hold at the end of this month.
The LP caucus leader in the House, Afam Victor Ogene, said in a statement on Sunday in Awka, Anambra State, that the postponement was necessary to allow for further consultations in light of the party’s lingering leadership crisis.
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The LP national leadership, in a letter dated March 13, notified the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) of the proposed conduct of the national convention of the party.
The letter said that the venue was changed from Benin City, Edo State, to Umuahia, Abia State, while the date was altered from March 29 to March 27.
Daily Trust also reports that the proposed national convention had pitched the party against the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and elected lawmakers on the platform of the party.
The NLC and some supporters of the former presidential candidate of the party, Peter Obi, have called for the sack of the National Chairman of the LP, Julius Abure, for planning to hold a convention without the input of stakeholders in the party.
However, the LP National Spokesman, Ifoh, said in the Monday statement that the statement by Ogene, the caucus leader in the House, shows that the lawmaker lacks knowledge of the provisions of the constitution of the party under which he was elected.
“We had expected that, even though he is coming from the background of the PDP and APC, he should not mistake the APC and PDP constitutions for that of the Labour Party. We would like to educate him to note that as the other parties’ constitutions are ddifferent,so is the Labour Party.
“In line with Article 15:1-4 of our party constitution, there is no equality of tenure. While the ward, local government, and state executives have three years of tenure, the national executive has four years of tenure,” he said.
“We therefore advise our lawmakers to desist from rushing to the press on party matters. Party internal matters must remain internal matters. The party will not hesitate to discipline any party member who does not respect the supremacy of the party. The party is prepared to defend its ideology and constitution at all times, irrespective of whose ox is gored,” Ifoh added.
