The leadership of the Labour Party has strongly refuted claims of a purported takeover of party affairs, dismissing reports of a functional Board of Trustees (BoT) as baseless.
This rejoinder follows a recent statement made by Sylvester Ejiofor, the party’s BoT Chairman, regarding the trustees assuming control after the tenure expiration of Julius Abure and the subsequent re-election controversy in Nnewi.
Obiora Ifoh, the National Publicity Secretary of the LP, refuted these claims, stating that the party has no knowledge of any existing BoT, contrary to media speculation. Ifoh emphasised that Ejiofor relinquished his role as the inaugural national chairman of the Labour Party more than two decades ago, remaining inactive in party affairs ever since.
According to Ifoh, Ejiofor’s sudden resurgence into party matters, allegedly prompted by engagements with National Labour Congress (NLC) leaders, raises suspicions of ulterior motives. He highlighted the lack of participation or financial contribution from Ejiofor, casting doubt on his legitimacy as a party member, let alone a BoT chairman.
The LP spokesperson reiterated the party’s stance, affirming that the absence of a BoT is evident, as the majority of proposed members have defected to other political parties or engaged in activities contrary to LP’s interests. He condemned what he termed as the NLC’s desperation and urged Ejiofor to provide evidence of any convened meetings during his purported BoT tenure.
With Julius Abure’s recent election as the Labour Party’s national chairman, Ifoh called for unity and urged detractors to refrain from stirring controversy. He urged cooperation in the party’s mission to contribute positively to the nation’s development, urging Ejiofor and other critics to desist from unnecessary political confrontation.
