Peter Obi, the Labour Party's presidential candidate, urged calm following an invasion of the party headquarters by members of the National Transition Committee. This committee, which aims to take over the Nigeria Labour Congress, disrupted the party's activities on Tuesday. Obi emphasized the importance of reconciliation within the party, referring to the demonstrators as family members who need to be reconciled. He expressed his readiness for a reconciliation meeting and viewed the events of the day as the beginning of a necessary reconciliation process.
Obi highlighted the reconciliation efforts between the Abure and Lamidi Apapa factions, emphasizing that the unity of the party is paramount. He assured that decisions would be made collectively, in line with the party's constitution and under the guidance of the National Executive Council. Obi, alongside Governor Otti, pledged to participate in these discussions, underscoring the importance of family-like unity within the party.
Earlier, Abdulwaheed Omar, leading the National Transition Committee, announced their intention to take control of the Labour Party's national headquarters. He declared an end to the practices of the previous National Working Committee, which included corruption and mismanagement. Omar emphasized the committee's commitment to revamping the party and eradicating corrupt practices, asserting the support of genuine Labour Party members and their determination to oppose entrenched political interests.
The National Transition Committee, established by the NLC Political Commission, aims to restructure the party following the annulment of Julius Abure's re-election as National Chairman. The committee, including prominent members like Prof. Sam Amadi and Abiodun Olamosu, plans to form various sub-committees to manage the Labour Party's administration. During their takeover attempt, the committee faced resistance at the party's headquarters, but Obi addressed the demonstrators, stressing the importance of reconciliation and unity for the party's future.