The Labour Party presidential candidate can leave the NLC, according to the Nigeria Labour Congress.
Sunday’s Punch interview with NLC spokesman Benson Upah revealed this.
The leadership of the NLC vowed not to rest until it unseat Julius Abure as national chairman of the Labour Party.
Upah said despite the ‘illegal’ national convention that returned Abure to office, the union would never confer legitimacy or give recognition to his leadership.
He said, “Our position on this matter is clear and has not changed. Abure remains unknown to us. It is not a question of removal. As far as we know, he does not exist.”
Meanwhile, a group of retired workers from the Lagos Assembly of Labour Veterans and Trade Unionists is calling for the resignation of the embattled national chairman of the party and NLC President, Joe Ajaero, due to their leadership struggle.
Obi has clashed with the LP leadership over the handling of the convention in Nnewi, Anambra State, despite his request for broader consultations.
The former governor of Anambra, during an X Space session last Friday, shared his frustrations.
Obi revealed that he did not attend the national convention where Julius Abure was re-elected as the party’s national chairman because the leadership did not listen to his plea for wider consultations with relevant stakeholders before the event.
His statement has added to earlier rumors that the LP presidential candidate may be exploring other options despite being assured the 2027 ticket at the convention.
But Upah said the issue of whether Obi should stay or leave the party should not be debated, saying the former governor was free to determine his destiny.
According to him, the NLC cannot stand in the way of the presidential candidate should he decide to defect to another political platform.
Upah described Obi as an asset, saying the congress would not stand in his way if he chose to leave.
“The right of choice is available to Mr Obi. If he chooses to leave the party, that is his preference. We can’t sit in judgment over him on that. But if he chooses to remain, of course, Peter Obi is an asset any day. I rest my case on that,” he said.