The Labour Party's Deputy National Chairman, Ayo Olorunfemi, has condemned the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) protest at the party's headquarters in Abuja, describing it as a "criminal action" that requires legal consequences.
The protest, tagged the "Abure must go" campaign, aimed to force the removal of Julius Abure as chairman.
Speaking on Arise TV, Olorunfemi emphasized that the law must be respected, citing Article 7 of the Labour Party's constitution, which declares that the party's constitution is supreme.
He warned that if the NLC continues to disregard the rules, those involved in the protest should face legal action. "They trespassed," he said. "We must learn to abide by the law."
Meanwhile, Peter Obi, the Labour Party's presidential candidate in the last election, has downplayed the party's internal crises, stressing that everyone is working towards a united front.
Speaking at the party's headquarters in Abuja, Obi revealed his intention to initiate a peaceful reconciliation process to bring together the party's factions. He also hinted that the National Executive Council, himself, and Abia State Governor Alex Otti will decide on the leadership crisis in the party.
Olorunfemi's comments come as a stark contrast to Obi's optimistic approach to resolving the crisis. While Obi sees unity as the ultimate goal, Olorunfemi is focused on upholding the law and holding those responsible accountable for their actions.
The divergent views highlight the complex nature of the Labour Party's internal conflicts and the challenges ahead for resolving them.
In this high-stakes game of politics and power struggles, only time will tell if Obi's efforts at reconciliation will prevail or if Olorunfemi's call for accountability will dominate the narrative.
One thing is certain - the Labour Party must find a way to reconcile its factions and move forward if it hopes to regain its momentum and relevance in Nigerian politics.