Chairman of Labour Party in Oyo State, Sadiq Atayese, has said that the leadership crisis at the national level of the party will not create factions among its members in the state.
Atayese told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Tuesday in Ibadan that stakeholders in the state had agreed to work together to achieve the common goal of winning the 2027 elections in the state.
He stated that the party leadership, Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and Trade Union Congress (TUC) political commissions and members had resolved to work together on the party’s common goal.
“Concerning the crisis at the national level, we must understand that Labour Party has become a darling of majority of the citizens.
“People have seen the party as the only alternative for their hope. So, as typical of politicians with their interests, they may want to take control of such a platform, but basically, in no time, the dust will settle.
“For us in Oyo State, we stand on and operate with the constitution of the party; there is no doubt that all members cannot have the same view and interest in the party.
“We are regulating our affairs strictly and in accordance with the party’s constitution. So, if a member wants to stray, the constitution will put such a person in check.
“There is no leadership issue; we remain one Labour Party in Oyo State,” he said.
Atayese disclosed that the party would soon commence its congresses in the ward, local government and state levels.
This, he said, would give all members with the requisite qualifications the opportunity to contest for any of the party positions.
NAN reports that the crisis in Labour Party deepened as the two parties in the leadership tussle recently summoned separate National Executive Council (NEC) meetings to deliberate on the Supreme Court judgment.
Meanwhile, Mr Julius Abure, while speaking with party faithful at his own faction of NEC meeting in Abuja, declared that there was no vacuum in the leadership of the party.
He claimed that the Supreme Court judgment did not say the tenure of the current National Working Committee (NWC), under his leadership, had expired.
On the other hand, the Peter Obi/Gov. Alex Otti faction insisted that the Abure leadership had been sacked by the apex court judgment.
Consequently, the faction had put in place a caretaker committee headed by a former Minister of Finance, Sen. Nenadi Usman. (NAN)
