• Only INEC can confirm LP’s authentic leader, says Obi
• Tells NLC to sheathe sword, hails settlement with Apapa group

Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) National Transition Committee (NTC), yesterday, protested at the headquarters of the Labour Party (LP) in Abuja, demanding the immediate resignation of the National Chairman, Julius Abure.

 
But LP presidential candidate in the 2023 general election, Peter Obi, said only the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) could determine the authentic leader of the party.
 
 Obi, while placating the protesters led by the acting chairman of NTC, Abdulwaheed Omar, tried to play down the party’s internal wrangling and expressed happiness with the return of the Lamidi Apapa faction to the party.
 
He said he was early at the party headquarters to initiate a peace and reconciliation process in LP.  Omar led members of the labour union to the secretariat, calling for the resignation of Abure, whose tenure, they said, had expired.
   
The Guardian gathered that as the protesters were approaching the party’s headquarters, the gates were immediately shut by security officials. However, in an attempt to force their way into the premises, the police fired teargas to dispatch them.
 
Obi said: “During our meeting before we learnt that our people were outside, I told them that my first assignment was reconciliation, my second assignment was reconciliation and my third assignment was reconciliation. I can tell you that what you witnessed earlier is normal in our lives. I do the same thing. It is what we do every day, even in our families. When we quarrel with our wives and children, we reconcile. 
 
“So, these people here are members of the family that we must reconcile with. We are going to sit at a roundtable and decide the future of our party. I am ready for a reconciliatory meeting any day you choose, Mr Chairman.” He described the protest as the beginning of the reconciliation process, noting that Apapa and Abure reconciled for a greater LP.
 
The former governor of Anambra State also stated that the decision to have Abure remain as chairman of the party would be taken by stakeholders, who would consider the various factors involved.
 
While fielding questions from reporters after he addressed the NTC, Obi said he initiated peace meetings with the party’s leadership and other stakeholders, including members of the NWC, legislators and others, to resolve the leadership challenge and focus on unity.
 
The NLC had planned to take over the party’s secretariat, but was denied access, as Obi and other stakeholders were already holding a peace meeting there. Policemen were stationed at the gate, controlling access as approved by the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Chairman of LP, Peter Diugwu.