By Jude Opara, Abuja

The National Chairman of the Labour Party (LP) Barr. Julius Abure has charged stakeholders in the party to think of how to reposition the party instead of engaging in what he described as destructive criticisms.

In a statement issued on Tuesday, National Publicity Secretary (NPS) of the LP, Obiora Ifoh said a letter said to have been written by members of the party who called on the National Chairman to resign was in unnecessary; adding that after the impressive showing of the party in the 2023 general elections, members of the party at all levels ought to have concentrated on how to deepen the gains so far made.

Ifoh said the authors of the said statement that is circulating in the social media made a lot of unsubstantiated accusations against the Abure led National Working Committee (NWC) all in an attempt to justify their demands which he said is nothing but self-serving and unproductive.

The NPS added that a careful look at the authors revealed that most of them were new in the party and may not have known where the party was before Abure and his team piloted it to the enviable height it is today, hence the interest of most Nigerians old and young to identify with the party.

“On the allegation that the leadership of the party has not been able to translate to success the support given by the members of the party and the Obidient Movement. It is pertinent to state categorically that this would be the first time in the history of the Labour Party to have contested vigorously in a presidential election. Yet, after all the manipulations of the result, the Labour Party won 12 states in the Presidential election, One governorship seat, 8 seats in the Senate, 35 seats at the Federal House of Representatives and numerous other seats in the State Houses of Assembly.

“This is also the first time, the Labour Party will be a major political force to be reckoned with and as at today in Nigeria, going by INEC’s records and the performances of the various political parties, Labour Party can best be described as the Third Force in Nigeria and these achievements were recorded by the party within five months, the shortest possible time in the history of political parties in Nigeria”.

The party also rejected the statement that the LP has become a transactional party and that its founding fathers have been distanced from the affairs of the party.

“Under the present leadership, the team has been committed to the growth and development of the party. We will not bother them with several offers that were made and rejected by Abure leadership in order to build, consolidate and make the Labour Party a truly alternative political party that it has become today.

“We want to state clearly that this would be the first time that the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC) will be enjoying a cordial and harmonious relationship with the party. It will interest you to know that towards the preparation for the 2023 general election, both NLC and TUC had a summit in conjunction with the Labour Party where they came up with the modus operandi on how to work together for the purpose of that election.

“Unknown to the authors of the statement, over 50 members of the Organised Labour were members of the National Campaign Council at various levels including the directorate of Labour Services headed by a former President of the TUC, Olaleye Quadri. They equally participated in all the campaigns across the states through their state councils, and their representatives in the campaign council. Both NLC and TUC have active representations in the National Working Committee of the party and they are still serving as Deputy National Chairman as mandated by the constitution of the party. There is no doubt that the Labour Party enjoys a cordial and harmonious working relationship with the NLC and TUC.”

The statement also said the leadership of the LP is not aware of any court judgement that has terminated the tenure of Abure as claimed by the authors who want the national Chairman out.