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JUST IN: Call NLC To Order, LP Petitions SGF, Labour Ministry

Published

2 years ago

March 22, 2024

Following Wednesday’s invasion of its secretariats, the leadership of Labour Party has formally petitioned relevant government institutions requesting that an urgent intervention be taken to protect the party against further aggression from the Nigeria Labour Congress.

In four separate letters written to the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator George Akume; Attorney General of the Federation, Lateef Fagbemi; Ministry of Labour and Employment and Registrar of Trade Unions, Falonipe Amos, the party also called for disciplinary action to be taken against the NLC President, Joe Ajaero, and other union leaders who spearheaded the alleged vandalisation of its property.

The demand comes barely 24 hours after the embattled National Chairman of LP, Julius Abure, lamented that they lost property worth millions of naira and some staff salaries to the siege.

The ongoing conflict between the NLC and the leadership of LP escalated on Wednesday when members of the union picketed the party’s secretariats across the country.

The move was to press home their demand for Abure’s resignation.

The protesting workers were spotted laying siege to LP national headquarters in Abuja on Wednesday, chanting solidarity songs and displaying banners that read ‘Abure must go’ among others.

They were, however, prevented from gaining access into the party secretariat by security operatives posted to the area to maintain order.

But the LP national chairman insisted that the union members broke into their offices where they destroyed properties worth millions of naira and also made away with some money meant for staff salaries.

But on Friday, the party petitioned the Federal Government, demanding that sanctions be meted out to Ajaero and his loyalists for intimidating their members and vandalizing its properties.

A statement released in Abuja by the party’s National Publicity Secretary, Obiora Ifoh, also debunked reports describing the NLC as owner of Labour party.

According to him, the Federal Government being the regulatory agency for trade unions should define the role of the NLC, particularly on its alleged claim of owning LP for which it has continually harass and interfere in the party’s activities.

He said, “Ajaero has over reached himself by using workers funds to picket and sponsor insurrection in the Labour Party headquarters, an action which amounts to an abuse of office and should therefore be called to order and properly sanctioned. It has become unavoidably necessary to request your urgent intervention, being the regulatory agency for trade unions, including the NLC.

“It is our arguments that using workers funds to picket and sponsor insurrection in the Labour Party headquarters and its legitimate leadership is an abuse of office by the Presidents of the NLC, Joe Ajaero and should therefore be called to order and properly sanctioned. Similarly, the NLC has no right to picket an organisation where there is no trade dispute. The Labour Party has no staff members who are members of the NLC.

“The action of the NLC is a clear violation of the 1999 Constitution, the Electoral Act, the Trade Union Act, and other relevant laws. NLC members are not card-carrying members of the Labour Party. The Labour Party cannot be owned by any association. Membership of the party is on an individual basis. The Labour Party’s Constitution says the party is open to all Nigerians who accept its ideology, programmes, and the constitution, irrespective of their religion, ethnic, gender, social, and economic status.

“As lawful citizens, we didn’t want to confront them in an uncivilised manner in order to avoid breakdown of law and order. We had the option of also mobilising party faithful to confront them.

“Doing that at this point where the harsh economic climate is having its toll on the Nigerian people will result to anarchy. Thus, the urgent need to call the NLC and its leadership led by Joe Ajaero to order, educate them on the limit of their power, condemn their rascality, abuse of office and discipline them as appropriate.”

News

UPDATED: INEC Declares Soludo Winner Of Anambra Guber Poll

Published

6 hours ago

November 9, 2025

Editor

The candidate of the All Progressives Grand Alliance, Prof. Chukwuma Soludo, has been declared the winner of the Saturday, November 8, 2025, Anambra State governorship election by the Returning Officer of the Independent National Electoral Commission, Prof. Edoba Omoregie.

Soludo, who polled a total of 422,664 votes, defeated his closest rival, the candidate of the All Progressives Congress, Nicholas Ukachukwu, who scored 99,445 votes, while the candidate of the Young Progressives Party, Sir Paul Chukwuma, came third with 37,753 votes.

According to INEC, a total of 16 candidates from various political parties participated in the election.

The state had 2,788,864 registered voters, out of which 598,229 were accredited. A total of 595,298 votes were cast, while 11,244 votes were rejected across the 21 local government areas.

From the results announced, Soludo of APGA won in all 21 local government areas of the state in a landslide victory.

Announcing the results at the INEC headquarters in Awka on Sunday, Omoregie said, “The number of registered voters was 2,788,864, while accredited voters were 598,229. The total valid votes stood at 584,054, rejected votes were 11,244, and the total votes cast amounted to 595,298.”

He added, “After collating the results as tallied into Form EC8E, it is now my privilege to declare the figures each candidate scored according to their political parties.

“There were a few areas affected by incidents, leading to cancellations in some wards across Anambra West, Anaocha, Awka South, and Onitsha South LGAs, amounting to 10,481 affected votes. However, the margin of lead between the top candidates did not affect the overall outcome of the election.

“I, Prof. Edoba Omoregie, Returning Officer for the 2025 Anambra State Governorship Election, hereby declare that the election was peaceful. Chukwuma Soludo of the All Progressives Grand Alliance, having scored 422,664 votes — the highest number of valid votes cast and having satisfied the requirements of the law — is hereby declared the winner and returned elected.”

Breakdown of results:

Total registered voters: 2,788,864

Total accredited voters: 598,229

Total valid votes: 584,054

Rejected votes: 11,244

Total votes cast: 595,298

Votes by political parties:
A – 224
AA – 1,145
AAC – 292
ADC – 8,208
APC – 99,445
APGA – 422,664
APM – 892
APP – 73
BP – 126
LP – 10,576
NNPP – 525
NRM – 36
PDP – 1,401
SDP – 241
YPP – 37,753
ZLP – 453

News

BREAKING: Soludo Sweeps Anambra Guber Election

Published

9 hours ago

November 9, 2025

Editor

The candidate of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) in the Anambra governorship election, Prof. Charles Soludo has been declared winner of the poll.

Returning Officer of the election, Prof. Edoba declared Soludo winner having polled
422,664 votes to defeat his closest opponent.

More details coming

News

AnambraDecides: CTA Frowns at Logistic Challenge, Ill-treatment Meted On Security Personnel

Published

10 hours ago

November 9, 2025

Editor

The Center for Transparency and Advocacy on Saturday frowned at the logistic challenges faced during the Anambra governorship election despite INEC claimed preparedness.

The organisation also chided authorities concerned over ill- treatment meted on security personnel who were deployed from different on special special duty during the election.

In an mid-election briefing in Awka, Prof Alex Asigbo, an expert observer with the CTA said the election was held in a relatively atmosphere of peace, amidst heavy deployment of security personnel.

Asigbo, who emphasized the need for INEC to carry out more voters education, disclosed that it was observed that while voting was ongoing, a church programme was being held in a part of Akwa.

He said, “The Anambra State Gubernatorial Election, one of the off-season elections in today’s Nigeria’s electoral calendar held across 21 Local Governments on the 8th November 2025.

“The election held as scheduled in a relatively peaceful atmosphere, amid heavy deployment of police and other security agencies. We had noted the general climate of peace in the build up to the elections. CTA deployed 50 trained election observers across the 21 local government areas to observe the election.

“Recall that in our pre-election assessment, we raised concerns on the preparedness of INEC, logistics, security, and the role of political actors in delivering a free, fair, credible, inclusive and conclusive elections.The following are the preliminary findings from our field observers deployed across the state: Time of arrival of INEC Officials and materials/ Commencement of voting

“Reports from our field observers indicate that INEC officials and materials arrived late in many polling units, resulting in late opening of polls in many polling units. In about 68 percent of polling units, INEC officials and material arrived between 8:25 to 9am, while in about 31 percent of the polling units, voting commenced much later – between 8:30 and 10:00am.CTA notes that INEC is yet to resolve its logistics challenge, as earlier highlighted in our pre-election press briefing.”

He said that despite assurances from the Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), CTA observers reported that logistics arrangements, including vehicles deployment, were inadequate, adding that In some instances, hired vehicles for the election refused to pick up other INEC officials to polling units after making their initial drop-off, which further contributed to delays.

Continuing, he said.
“Our observers report that due to security reasons, INEC was forced to relocate voting in five communities of Azia, Orsumoghu, Mbosi, Ubuluisiuzo, Issekke and Lilu to the headquarters of Ihiala LGA . Voter Turnout/ Conduct of Voters Voter turnout was generally low. Many have been influenced by voter apathy, security concerns, and doubts about the credibility of the electoral process. Some of the citizens showed lack of interest in the election, one of such experience was at Demonstration Primary School at Agu Awka in Awka South where our observers reported a Church programme going on simultaneously with voting.

“We charged citizens to take civic duty very serious. INEC and Political parties must also take civil and voter education very serious to educate citizens. However, CTA commends the citizens for conducting themselves peacefully and in accordance with voting guidelines. “