News
Plot To Suspend NWC Member: LP Cautions Obi, Otti Other To Disassociate Self
As the disquiet in Nigeria’s third largest political party, Labour Party, rages on, the Apapa led National Working Committee (NWC) of the party, has called on the presidential candidate of the party, Peter Obi, the governor-elect of Abia State, Alex Otti and legislators elected on the platform of the party, to disassociate themselves from the suspended National Chairman of the party, Bar Julius Abure.
This was contained in a press statement signed by the National Publicity Secretary, Abayomi Arabambi, where the party alleged plot by the Abure led NWC together with none members of the party’s NEC, including Peter Obi and others to to push for the suspension of members of the NWC in a meeting scheduled to hold in Asaba tomorrow Tuesday.
Arabambi warned that such action would only amount to contempt of court and all parties involved might as well risk jail term, especially when Abure and those to preside at the meeting have been restrained by court and are currently facing criminal charges in court. The restraining order has also been communicated to inec by our lawyer OJ ONOJA SAN.
The statement reads: “The attention of the National Working Committee of Labour Party has been drawn to a plot by the suspended National Chairman of Labour Party, Julius Abure, to lure Peter Obi, the presidential candidate of the party and Alex Otti, the Governor-elect of Abia State under the Labour Party into conducting an emergency National Executive Meeting (NEC) scheduled to hold in Asaba on Tuesday April 18, 2023.
“We have also been informed that one of the agenda of the meeting is to carry out illegal suspension on members of the National Working Committee (NWC) of the party by the same suspended NWC members led by Abure who are currently facing criminal charges in court.
“Last week, Julius Abure and his illegal gang executives went against a restraining Order of an Abuja High Court as a result of indictment by the Inspector General of Police through the DIG Force CID for Forgery,Perjury and impersonation in suit number CV/2930/2023 to conduct a parallel screening for governorship candidates of Labour Party from Imo, Bayelsa and Kogi State when a screening was ongoing at the party’s national headquarters.
“We have been reliable informed that Abure and his gang have gathered some senators-elect, house of representatives members-elect of Labour Party, who have not been inaugurated and are also not members of NEC for the meeting to take illegal decision against the party’s constitution.
“Such action is a contempt of court that even a child should know the impending consequences of a jail term. While the rumour of the planned Asaba kangaroo meeting has been confirmed to be true, we don’t want to believe that our presidential candidate, Peter Obi, Alex Otti, the Governor-elect of Abia State and other elected members of the party are part of this plot.
“We believe that they know of the impending consequences of holding a NEC meeting under the Abure leadership when the court has restrained them from the role of the national chairman and national secretary. They risk jail term through contempt proceeding that will be filled against them in the court, should they proceed with the plan as it’s a direct affront and insult on the presiding Judge Hon Justice H MUAZU order as granted on the 5th day of April 2023
“There is a tenent of the rule of law that should be uphold, especially for people who got their mandates on the trust of a new Nigeria of uprightness. A Nigerian that the rule of law is respected.”
He advise that Obi concentrate on his case at the Election Petition Tribunal and allow the court complete its proceedings on Julius Abure and other members of the party’s NWC fingered in forgery and perjury.
“Peter Obi should know that by the provisions of law, he is not an officer of Labour Party. We want him to know that. Otti is not an officer of Labour Party. It’s only the National Working Committee that can conduct primary. Obi is not a member of Labour Party NWC. Even if he won the presidential election, that doesn’t qualify him to become an NWC member but he can only be a member of NEC.
“By the provisions of law, anyone involved in such plot risk contemp of court and jail term.
“Labour Party was founded on principle and this is what we must continue to preserve. Obi must not join Abure to ruin the fortune of Labour Party as the new National leadership will not condone any form of executive rascality, malfeasance where Labour party will be reduced to a one man, regional or ethnic base political party as being currently promoted by the infantile Julius Abure and his co travellers,” Arabambi added.
National
Enugu Ministers’ Roundtable To Equip Church Leaders for Spiritual Harvest, Says KARM Leader
The Kingdom Apostolic Revival Ministries (KARM) has unveiled plans for a significant gathering dubbed the Enugu Ministers’ Roundtable, aimed at equipping church leaders and workers for what its convener describes as an “imminent harvest of souls.”
The announcement was made on Tuesday by Apostle John Enelamah, leader of KARM, in a statement released to journalists,on Tuesday.
The conference, scheduled for 11-12 April 2025 at the Jesus the Way Gospel Mission Auditorium in New Era Layout, Akwunanu, Enugu, is expected to draw ministers and church workers from across Nigeria’s South East and South South regions.
Apostle Enelamah emphasised that the event would not only address the spiritual needs of attendees but also tackle their temporal concerns, while fostering discussions on expanding the reach of the Christian faith.
“The Ministers’ Roundtable is a forum where ministers and church workers will come together to fellowship and receive the Word of God, equipping them for the great work ahead,” Enelamah said.
“God’s move and revival are sweeping across the nations, and Nigeria has a pivotal role to play in these end times.”
Enelamah highlighted Enugu’s strategic importance in the South East as a key reason for hosting the event there, noting that the conference would serve as a springboard for further outreach in the region.
He also revealed plans for a future gathering, the Mission To West Africa (MTWA) Conference, set to take place in Umuahia in February 2026.
The Enugu Ministers’ Roundtable will feature prominent Christian leaders, including Archbishop Chris Ede of the Methodist Church Nigeria, Enugu Archdiocese; Bishop Obi Onubuogu of Rock Family Church; and Apostle Chuks Alozie of the Abia Apostolic Intercessory Team.
The event will be hosted by Rev John Uga, with sessions running from 9am to 4pm on 11 April and resuming at 9am on 12 April.
In his statement, Enelamah urged ministers “thirsty and hungry for greater exploits in their ministry” to attend, promising a spiritually enriching experience that would “build up our most holy faith.”
He added that KARM intends to collaborate closely with ministers in Enugu and other parts of southern Nigeria to strengthen the church’s mission.
The Global Information Team (GIT) has urged the newly appointed management of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL), led by Ojulari, to honour a prior commitment to absorb 12 staff members from the now-defunct Hyson Nigeria Limited, warning that failure to do so violates international labour standards.
The appeal, spearheaded by GIT’s head of investigation, Anabel Crown, follows the dissolution of all trading joint ventures by the NNPCL board in late 2023, which saw Hyson Nigeria Limited officially wound up on 31 December of that year.
The move was part of a broader consolidation effort to bring all trading operations under a wholly owned NNPCL entity.
At the time, assurances were made that the 12 Hyson employees would face no job losses and would be seamlessly transferred to NNPC Retail Limited—a promise that has yet to materialise.
Under the tenure of former Group Chief Executive Officer (GCEO) Mele Kyari, who was recently removed by President Asiwaju Ahmed Bola Tinubu, the transition stalled, leaving the workers in limbo.
The GIT now calls on Ojulari’s administration to revisit the matter urgently, either by absorbing the staff into NNPCL or offering them substantial severance packages akin to those provided by the Central Bank of Nigeria to its relieved employees.
“This prolonged uncertainty is not just a breach of trust—it’s a violation of international labour law,” Crown told Elanza News.
“Keeping workers promised employment in suspense amounts to deceit and deception, with devastating consequences for their livelihoods and families.”
The situation has been compounded by alleged mismanagement during the transition.
Sources within GIT allege that the former managing director of Hyson Nigeria Limited deliberately withheld a crucial letter that would have facilitated the staff’s absorption into NNPC Retail Limited.
“This was an act of selfishness, with no regard for the wellbeing of these workers or their families,” Crown said, pointing to the rigorous interviews the staff underwent, with results submitted to the NNPC Retail board—then chaired by Kyari—for approval that never came.
The affected workers, described as “fathers and children” by GIT, have faced severe hardship, deprivation, and even starvation as the matter remains unresolved.
“These are people who went through a thorough recruitment process and were deemed successful, yet they’ve been left to suffer,” Crown added.
In a direct appeal, GIT has called on President Tinubu, who serves as the substantive Petroleum Minister overseeing NNPCL, to intervene. “As the father of the nation and a true democrat, we urge Mr President to wade into this matter.
These workers deserve sympathy and swift action—absorbing them without delay is not just a matter of humanity, but a defence of their rights and privileges,” the GIT statement read.
The controversy comes amid broader scrutiny of NNPCL’s operations following Kyari’s exit and Ojulari’s appointment, with stakeholders watching closely to see if the new leadership will prioritise transparency and accountability.
For now, the fate of the 12 Hyson workers hangs in the balance, their plight a stark reminder of the human cost of bureaucratic delays.
The Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Rivers State Council, has issued a 14-day ultimatum to the Rivers State Police Command to tender an unreserved public apology over the assault on five journalists during a peaceful protest in Port Harcourt or risk a statewide media blackout.
In a statement jointly signed by the Council Chairman, Comrade Paul Bazia, and Secretary, Dr. Ijeoma Tubosia, the NUJ condemned the actions of police officers involved, demanding their immediate identification and prosecution.
“The NUJ, as a watchdog of society, will not sit idly by while media practitioners are subjected to barbarism and brutality. Enough is enough,” the statement warned, noting that any further attack on journalists in the state would be “vehemently resisted.”
The union described the incident as “unprovoked, barbaric, and inhuman,” saying it amounted to a gross violation of the rights of the affected journalists.
Those assaulted include Charles Opurum of Channels TV, Allwell Ene of Naija FM, Soibelemari Oruwari of Nigeria Info, Ikezam Godswill of AIT, and Femi Ogunkhilede of Super FM.
The journalists were tear-gassed while covering the protest, with Opurum beaten, and detained by security operatives.
Expressing deep regret over the incident, the NUJ lamented that an institution tasked with safeguarding lives and property has turned its weapons on citizens, particularly journalists performing their lawful duties.
Despite the provocation, the union reaffirmed its commitment to constructive engagement and partnership with the police in the interest of peace and national development.
It, however, cautioned the police not to jeopardise the existing relationship with the media.
The NUJ also urged its members to remain calm and law-abiding, expressing hope that the police authorities would take decisive steps to address the matter and ensure a more respectful working relationship with journalists in Rivers State.