Ojukwu Laments LP’s Losses, Backs Nenadi-Led Caretaker Committee

A former National Organising Secretary of the Labour Party, Clement Ojukwu, has expressed regret over the wave of litigations that trailed the 2023 general elections, saying the legal battles have negatively impacted the party’s fortunes.

Ojukwu, who recently aligned with the interim National Working Committee led by Esther Nenadi Usman, said the party’s electoral gains after the 2023 polls had been significantly eroded.

According to him, the Labour Party secured 34 seats in the House of Representatives, eight in the Senate, and about 80 seats in various state Houses of Assembly following the 2023 general elections.

“Now we have lost all of them. I don’t think we have up to five members in the National Assembly,” he said.

Speaking with journalists in Abuja, Ojukwu explained that his decision to work with the caretaker committee was based on its recognition as the legitimate leadership of the party.

He said the move was aimed at rebuilding and repositioning the party ahead of future elections.

“I chose to work with the caretaker committee to help salvage the Labour Party. I also want to use this opportunity to call on my colleagues at the national, state and local government levels to come together and rebuild our party,” he said.

Ojukwu noted that many elected members had defected to other political parties, adding that reconciliation was necessary to restore the party’s status as a major opposition platform.

He disclosed that the caretaker committee had constituted a reconciliation panel and urged members across factions to embrace dialogue.

The former party official, who was previously aligned with the camp of Julius Abure, insisted that there were no longer factions within the party, citing a court ruling that, according to him, clarified the leadership structure.

He also called on Abure and other aggrieved members to withdraw pending court cases, warning that prolonged litigation could further weaken the party.

“Litigations are killing political parties. We have seen parties disappear because of endless legal battles. The Labour Party is losing supporters daily, and that is painful,” he said.

Ojukwu denied that his alignment with the Nenadi-led committee amounted to betrayal, maintaining that his actions were guided by the court’s decision and the need to protect the party’s future.