Ahead of Saturday’s presidential and National Assembly elections in the country, the leadership of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has asked all its members across the country to come out massively to vote for the Labour Party (LP) presidential candidate, Mr. Peter Obi and all candidates of the party contesting in the elections.
The decision to support Obi came after resolutions reached by the NLC’s leadership at the end of the inaugural meeting of the newly elected National Administrative Council (NAC) of the congress held on Monday.
The labour movement had earlier declared its interest and support for the LP and all its candidates for the 2023 general election.
It also reached an agreement with the LP and the presidential candidate on the Workers’ Charter of Demand to be implemented on assumption of office.
In a statement by its National Secretary, NLC National Political Commission, Chris Uyot, the congress urged all Labour Political Committee members in the states to intensify their work in mobilising workers and the Nigerian people both at the local, ward and polling unit levels to vote for the LP presidential candidate and all candidates of the party contesting the elections.
The Congress also vowed to work with allies in civil society organisations and students to take all necessary steps to safeguard the people’s votes by ensuring that the electoral process was transparent, free and fair.
The statement read in parts, “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 massive turnout of votes for the success of the Labour Party in line with an earlier resolution of the National Executive Council (NEC).
“Towards this end, all Labour Political Committee members in the states are to intensify their work in mobilising workers and the Nigerian people both at the local, ward and polling units to vote for the Presidential Candidate of the Labour Party, Mr. Peter Obi and all candidates of the Labour Party contesting the elections.
“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 peoples votes.
“This election promises to be the most decisive in our country. It offers an opportunity to transform our political, social and economic policy direction to be peoples-oriented as espoused in the Workers Charter of Demand.”