Bayo Onanuga, the Special Adviser to President Bola Tinubu on Information and Strategy, has dismissed the notion that Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) President, Joe Ajaero, is genuinely advocating for the rights of workers in Imo state. Onanuga suggests that Ajaero is engaging in partisan politics with the Labour party's governorship candidate ahead of the upcoming governorship election in the state.

Criticizing Ajaero's actions, Onanuga questions how the NLC president managed to convince the Trade Union Congress (TUC) that he is fighting for the rights of Imo workers.

“Joe Ajaero, with Labour governorship candidate playing partisan politics in Imo. And he claims he is fighting for all workers in the state. TUC surprisingly bought the lie,” reads a tweet by Onanuga.

This statement comes amid plans by the NLC to stage a nationwide shutdown starting from Tuesday, November 14, in response to the treatment of the union's president during a protest in Imo state the previous week.

During the protest in Imo, Ajaero aimed to amplify the demands of the state's NLC chapter, accusing Governor Hope Uzodinma of attempting to impose his preferred candidate to lead the union. Other allegations include claims that the governor had not paid workers' salaries for several months.

In response, Uzodinma refuted the allegations, attributing them to an attempt to tarnish his chances of victory in the upcoming governorship election on Saturday.