February 25 polls: NLC endorses Peter Obi again

Apex labour body, the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has re-enforced its endorsement of the Presidential Candidate of the Labour Party (LP), Mr. Peter Obi as its candidate in the February 25, 2023, presidential election.

In a statement released after the inaugural meeting of the Congress’ National Administrative Council on Wednesday, February 22, 2023, and signed by the National Secretary, National Political Commission of the Congress, Chris Uyot, titled ‘The elections are here – Support the Labour Party,” the NLC called on all workers and working people to ensure the success of all Labour Party candidates in the elections.

“This is a clarion call to all workers and working people that as we approach the final push towards the forthcoming presidential election come February 25, 2023, we should ensure a massive turnout of votes for the success of the Labour Party in line with an earlier resolution of the National Executive Council.”

The organised labour, made up of the NLC and the Trade Union Congress (TUC), had in June 2022, at the 10th anniversary lecture in honour of late labour veteran, Comrade Paschal Bafyau, declared its support for the Peter Obi/ Yusuf Datti Baba-Ahmed Labour Party ticket in speeches by their Presidents.

In his speech at the event, the then NLC President, Comrade Ayuba Wabba, had hailed Mr. Obi as the first presidential candidate of the LP to be recognised by the Labour Centre and had described him as among the finest of Nigerians.

He had then promised that the NLC would fully mobilise its members and Nigerians as a whole to ensure victory for him and the party’s other candidates in the 2023 general elections.

In Wednesday’s reinforcement of that endorsement, the NLC directed workers and indeed all Nigerians to come out en masse to perform their civic duties by voting in the forthcoming elections and taking decisive steps to safeguard their votes.

The Congress also urged “the Independent National Electoral Commission to ensure that the electoral processes are not only transparent and fair but reflect the wishes of the Nigerian people.”

The NLC added that all Labour Political Committee members in the states are to intensify their work of mobilising workers and the Nigerian people both at the local, ward and polling units’ levels to vote for Mr. Peter Obi for President as well as for all candidates of the LP for National Assembly seats.

They urged their political committee members to also work with their allies in civil society organisations and students to take all necessary steps to safeguard the people’s votes by ensuring that the electoral process is transparent, free and fair.

“To accomplish these significant tasks to save our democracy, all affiliate unions and state Councils of Congress are to give maximum cooperation and support to the political committees to strengthen their work at the state, local government, wards and polling unit levels by ensuring that they provide at least 10 ward coordinators and canvassers to not only mobilise but defend the people’s votes.

“History beckons. This election promises to be the most decisive in our country.”