Sand filter leaking at the base port

I have a 24 foot above ground pool. The filter is a 16 inch Hayes sand filter. I don't know the model as the label has faded.

When I hooked the filter up yesterday, I noticed the filter was dripping/running water at the drain port. Upon further inspection it was not dripping at the cap but dripping around the plastic piece that comes through the sand filter base as shown in the pictures. I have removed the cap and also removed the filter that prevents the sand from coming out of the port. I have removed enough sand to see down inside the filter to the outlet.

Attached you will see two pictures that show the piece in question.

I don't know how this piece was installed into the filter as the inside of this is round and therefore no way to tighten this piece up against the base of the filter to prevent water from coming around the base of this. This piece does turn so it is not tight enough. Is there a way to tighten this piece or has this seal just broke and cannot be fixed?
 

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Update. The pictures that I included showed a plastic nut on the outside which indeed it was. On the inside was the treaded base. It was round on the inside but I was able to get a locking pliers attached to the round base and tighten the nut from the outside. I did take this apart first and cleaned up the sand and then reinstalled. All is working and no leak.