The Federal High Court in Abuja on Wednesday declined to stop the embattled National Chairman of the Labour Party, Julius Abure from organizing the party’s national convention, which is scheduled to take place today in Umuahia, Abia.
Meanwhile, Abure was re-elected for a second term by unanimous affirmation of delegates at the convention despite the protests by the leadership of the Nigeria Labour Congress( NLC).
The Chairman of the National Convention and Deputy Governor of Abia State, Mr. Ikechukwu Emetu declared him the winner during the party’s national convention that held in Nnewi, Anambra State.
The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) had last week demanded Julius Abure’s resignation as the party chairman. Insisting on the formation of a caretaker transition committee to oversee the organization of a fair and inclusive national convention for the party.
Meanwhile, a factional chairman of the Labour Party in Anambra State, Mr Peter Okoye has boasted that the the Nnewi national convention will not stand.
Describing the convention as a sham, Okoye said: “This is not a convention. We are on top of the matter. It’s purely illegal.
“There was no ward congress, no local government congress, no state congress, and now who and who are the elected the delegates that are electing the National Working Committee, NWC, members?
“The NLC was not there, TUC was not there, the owners of the party and members of the NEC and BOT members were not there too. So, who is holding the convention?”
During the court hearing, Justice Inyang Ekwo, in a ruling, rather ordered the plaintiff, Chief Chidozie Ezeugwa, to put all the defendants on notice of the ex-parte application moved by his lawyer, Ammeh Ammeh.
The judge, thereafter, made an order for the defendants to show cause on the next date why the application of the applicant ought not to be granted.
The matter was then adjourned until April 4 for Abure and others to show cause.