The Conference of Nigeria Political Parties (CNPP) has asked the embattled national chairman of the Labour Party (LP), Barrister Julius Abure, to resign for allegedly not managing the crisis in the party well.
The CNPP gave the advice in a statement yesterday by its Deputy National Publicity Secretary, Comrade James Ezema, while reacting to the unfolding twists to the leadership tussle in the party.
It also commended the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for resisting what it described as obvious pressure to use its officials to endorse the outcome of the recent “contentious fractional national convention” of the party.
“In view of the obvious lack of internal democracy in most of the political parties in Nigeria, INEC has done well for the sake of advancing our democracy by resisting obvious pressure to use its officials to endorse the outcome of the recent contentious national convention organised by a faction of the party.
“Therefore, we call on Barrister Julius Abure to make himself the hero in the crisis by tendering his immediate resignation as the national chairman of the party.
“Nigeria is supposed to be a liberal democracy, where inclusive representation, rule of law, and protection of the rights and liberties of individuals within the political parties must be encouraged by all democrats and democratic institutions.
“It was against this backdrop of the lack of inclusivity that characterised the build up to the convention held in Anambra State, making it contrary to the Federal High Court’s judgment of Friday, July 23, 2021, which ordered parties in the Labour Party leadership tussle “to maintain status quo ante bellum in order not to disturb the rest of the matter pending further order of the court,” Ezema said.
But the party’s national publicity secretary, Mr Obiora Ifoh, declined comment when contacted to speak on the matter.