The Labour Party has accused the Nigeria Labour Congress leadership of working with politicians to destroy the party.
The party’s legal adviser, Kehinde Edum, alleged that the NLC leadership may be receiving financial backing from the rival party.
In a statement on Wednesday, the party’s legal adviser said LP does not belong to NLC. He added that the political commission of NLC has no attachment to the Labour Party, according to NaijaNews.
Edum stated that the NLC has no attachment to the Labour Party and is attempting to create division and crisis within the party.
He emphasized that the party remains strong and stable despite the NLC’s efforts.
The Labour Party also criticized the NLC’s request for a certified true copy of the party’s convention from the Independent National Electoral Commission , calling it dishonest and mischievous.
Edum questioned the source of the NLC’s funding for their activities, suggesting that they may be flouting the law by using congress funds for political objectives.
The party reiterated that its membership is open to all Nigerians, and no individual or association can claim ownership of the party.
He said, “Our party is being assailed on all sides by paid agents, chiefly the NLC and its cronies. The job for which the NLC has been paid is to create a semblance of division and crisis in our party. But despite their evil agenda, our party remains strong, virile and stable.
“The leadership of the NLC and the dubious committees and commissions they have created are not members of our party. They are external aggressors paid by rival political parties to embark on a campaign of calumny and ferocious attacks against our party’s leaders.
“The leadership of the NLC knows that they are not registered members of our party and therefore have no stake in the party. Their claim to any stake in the party is false, mischievous and lacking any merit whatsoever.
“But they continue to deceive gullible people and are therefore willing tools in the hands of dubious politicians and some of our elected members who want to simulate or create the appearance of a crisis to justify defection.”
“Even though the applicant and his principal were dishonest, mischievous, dubious and manipulative, INEC’s response was accurate and unpretentious.
“How on earth could there be an INEC monitored report when we have made it clear that INEC did not attend which position was also confirmed by INEC and is in the public domain?
“NLC and its cronies including the applicant knew INEC didn’t attend, why then ask for INEC report and what is their business with it?
“The law did not make it mandatory for INEC to attend any Party’s convention. INEC knew they were at liberty to come or not. What the law requires is proper notice,” Edum added.
The statement further read, “Their attempt at hijacking our party is illegal and unconstitutional as clearly stipulated in sections 221 to 229 of the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
“The Trade Union Act prohibits the NLC from applying its funds towards any political objectives. So where are they getting the money to cause all this trouble? Are they been paid by APC or are they flouting the law to apply the congress funds towards political objectives?
“Finally, the Constitution of Nigeria did not create Labour Party differently from other political parties, so all the crooked definitions by the NLC are unknown to law.
“Nobody and no association can own a political party. Labour Party membership is open to all Nigerians and all the members are joint owners of the party.”