In a move aimed at fostering unity and addressing recent internal challenges, the Labour Party (LP) has established a three-man Intervention and Truce Committee to reconcile with its members in the National Assembly.
The initiative follows a series of defections to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), raising concerns within the party leadership.
Mr. Obiora Ifoh, the LP’s National Publicity Secretary, announced the formation of the committee in a statement released on Tuesday in Abuja. He emphasized that this step is part of an ongoing effort to cultivate lasting harmony within the party structure.
The committee, inaugurated on Monday at the party’s national headquarters in Abuja by LP National Chairman, Mr. Julius Abure, is headed by Ben Etanabene, with Mathew Nworgu and Chinedu Obika serving as members.
Abure tasked the committee with engaging LP legislators in both the Senate and the House of Representatives to identify and resolve any existing differences between them and the party leadership.
“We entrust you with this important assignment of bringing together all our members in the national assembly, both in the Senate and House of Representatives,” Abure stated during the inauguration. “This is for the purpose of bridging the gaps and resolving all issues that may have existed.”
He further elaborated on the necessity for alignment between the party and its representatives in the National Assembly. “There is a need for all our members, about 40 of you, to be on the same page with the party leadership. You are our ambassadors at the national assembly, and we are proud of some of you and the values you have exhibited. But we think there are still some gaps that need to be plugged, hence the urgency for this assignment.”
The party has given the committee a two-week deadline to conclude its assessment and submit a report to the leadership. “We can assure you that the party will do all it can to ensure that enduring truce is achieved within the party and particularly with a key stakeholder such as the NASS caucus,” Abure added.
In response, Etanabene assured the party chairman of the committee’s dedication to the task.
The formation of the committee comes on the heels of several LP members in the National Assembly crossing over to the APC. The most prominent instance involved the defection of four LP members of the House of Representatives in a single session, all citing internal party strife as the primary reason for their departure. These legislators included: Chinedu Okere (Owerri Municipal/Owerri North/Owerri West); Mathew Donatus (Kaura); Akiba Bassey (Calabar Municipal/Odukpani) and Esosa Iyawe (Oredo). The party hopes that this intervention will stem further departures and strengthen its position within the legislative body.
