The Board of Trustees of the Labour Party has announced its takeover of the running of the affairs of the party.

Making the disclosure in a statement on Wednesday, the party’s BoT Chairman, S. O. Z. Ejiofor, said the move became necessary to avoid any leadership vacuum in the party.

According to Mr Ejiofor, the latest development which is in line with the party’s constitution “followed the expiration of the tenure in office of the immediate past National Working Committee of the Labour Party headed by Mr Julius Abure.”

Mr Ejiofor stated that the BoT does not recognise the party’s controversial national convention which took place earlier in the day in Anambra, where Julius Abure was re-elected as national chairman.

He said, “Furthermore, the Board of Trustees of the Labour Party, in consultation with major stakeholders in the party, will soon communicate the processes for the conduct of an all-inclusive and expansive National Convention of the Labour Party.

“This is in line with the March 20, 2018, Federal High Court consent judgement delivered by Justice Gabriel Kolawole, which recognised the Nigeria Labour Congress as the owner of the Labour Party and mandated that an all-inclusive and expansive National Convention of the Labour Party be held.

“The decision of the Board of Trustees is also in furtherance of the agreement signed between the former National Chairman of the Labour Party, Mr Julius Abure, and the Nigeria Labour Congress and the Trade Union Congress on 27th June 2022, which was mediated by the Independent National Electoral Commission,” he stated.

Commending the party members, especially workers, students, youths, market women and men, Obidients, and candidates on its platform for their contributions and fidelity to the ideals of the party, the BoT chairman promised to quickly set processes in motion for the conduct of an all-inclusive and expansive National Convention.

“Unlike the charade that took place today in Nnewi and in tandem with the principles of popular democracy, the all-inclusive national convention will start with grassroots congresses at ward, local government, state and ultimately at the national level.

“This process will not leave any genuine member of the Labour Party out and will be held in the full view of the Independent National Electoral Commission, media, civil society, security agents and the general public,” it added.

The BoT also applauded the leader of the party and its presidential candidate for the 2023 general elections, Mr Peter Obi, and key stakeholders in the party for not attending the controversial convention that took place in Nnewi.

The BoT therefore assured its party stakeholders of their commitment to reclaim and reposition the party “as the vehicle for the socio-political emancipation of our dear country, her working people and populace.”