Claim: There is a letter been circulated on social media platforms and also reported on conventional media claiming that Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, has endorsed the presidential candidate of the Labour Party, LP, Peter Obi for the forthcoming 2023 presidential election.
Full Text: The content of the letter sighted by PRNigeria and signed by Comrade Chris Uyot, National Secretary, NLC Political Commission states as follows: “The election are here, support the Labour Party
“We wish to refer to the resolution of the inaugural meeting of the National Administrative Council (NAC) of Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), directing workers and indeed all Nigerians to come out en mass to perform their civic duties by voting in the forth election and taking decisive steps to safeguard their votes. The NLC had urged the independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), to ensure that the electoral processes are not only transparent and fair, reflects the wishes of Nigerian people.
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 earlier resolution of the National Excecutive Council (NEC)…”
Verification: A thorough online search by PRNigeria revealed that media platforms including Leadership, Daily Nigerian, Channels and Legit reported in January 2023 that the Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, endorsed Labour Party presidential candidate, Peter Obi.
Again, on February 2022, PRNigeria discovered that NLC urged the Nigerians to come out en mass to exercise civic duties by voting massively for Peter Obi, in a resolution letter Dated 21st, February 2023, and signed by Comrade Chris Uyot National Secretary, NLC National Political Commission and widely reported in the media including Punch and Cable
PRNigeria further visited the official website of the NLC, sighted a press statement/communique of the President, Mr Joseph Ajaero on 20th February, but none of its content contained an endorsement of Mr Obi in the forthcoming elections.
PRNigeria therefore spoke to Dr Peter Ozor, Office of the National Secretary of the NLC who confirmed that the content of the letter endorsing Peter Obi is authentic.
He however clarified that it was not the NLC under the leadership of the President that endorsed the Labour Party candidate but an arm of the Congress known as the Political Commission.
“There’s no tampering with the letter…the President is different from the political commission. The political commission is the political voice of congress…our political interest is represented by the political commission. They were the ones that issued that release that’s why I am confirming it to you now that the content is coming from the National Headquarters of the Nigeria Labour Congress,” he explained
Conclusion: According to facts gathered by PRNigeria, the NLC Political Commission is the arm of the NLC that represents the political voice of congress. The Labour Party, is the political Party registered by the NLC.
PRNigeria, therefore, authenticates that the letter endorsing Peter Obi originated from the NLC through its arm, the NLC Political Commission.
