The leadership crisis rocking Nigeria’s Labour Party
(LP) took a dramatic turn on Wednesday as Lamidi Apapa declared himself the
party’s acting National Chairman, citing the recent Supreme Court judgment that
voided the leadership of Julius Abure.
Speaking at a press conference in Abuja, Apapa claimed
that the apex court’s April 4 ruling had nullified all previous court decisions
that upheld Abure’s leadership, thus paving the way for him, as the most senior
deputy national chairman, to take over in an acting capacity.
“I, Alhaji Bashiru Lamidi Apapa, the most senior
deputy national, and in consonance with our party constitution, hereby take
over the running of the affairs of our great party…,” Apapa announced, naming
Farouk Umar Ibrahim as acting National Secretary.
Supreme Court Judgment Sparks Conflicting
Interpretations
At the heart of the fresh tussle is a Supreme Court ruling delivered by a
five-member panel, which struck out the decision of the Court of Appeal
recognizing Abure as the party’s national chairman. The court maintained that
leadership disputes within political parties are internal matters and outside
the judiciary’s jurisdiction.
It also observed that, from available submissions,
Abure’s tenure had technically expired—a point Apapa and his supporters have
seized upon.
However, the Abure-led faction insists the judgment
has been misrepresented.
Abure Camp Insists on Valid Leadership
In a strongly worded response, Obiorah Ifoh, the National Publicity Secretary
of the Labour Party, stated that the Certified True Copy (CTC) of the judgment
vindicated Abure’s leadership and made no mention of either Apapa or Nenadi
Usman being mandated to take over the party.
“There is nowhere it stated that the leadership of
Barrister Julius Abure has elapsed or that Nenadi Usman and her committee were
directed to take over. The judgment simply reaffirmed the principle of party
supremacy,” Ifoh said.
According to him, Abure’s leadership remains valid,
having been elected at a National Convention in March 2024 for a four-year term
set to end in 2027.
“There is no vacuum whatsoever. These moves are
clearly aimed at destabilizing the party,” Ifoh told PEAKNEWS ONLINE.
A Third Faction Emerges
Adding to the confusion, a caretaker committee chaired by Senator Nenadi Usman,
with Darlington Nwokocha as secretary, had earlier been constituted by the
party’s National Executive Committee (NEC) during a meeting in Abia State,
prior to the Supreme Court ruling.
This group has the backing of key Labour Party
figures, including Peter Obi, the party’s 2023 presidential candidate, and
Governor Alex Otti of Abia State.
INEC Caught in the Middle
With three competing factions now laying claim to the party’s national
leadership, attention has shifted to the Independent National Electoral
Commission (INEC), which has the constitutional duty to recognize valid party
leaderships.
Earlier this week, a delegation led by Governor Otti
submitted a copy of the Supreme Court’s CTC to INEC headquarters in Abuja,
where they met with acting INEC Chairman, Sam Olumekun.
Olumekun assured the delegation of INEC’s commitment
to neutrality and rule of law, stating that the Commission would review the
judgment and make its decision known in due course.
The Bigger Picture
Observers warn that the lingering power struggle could harm the Labour Party’s
cohesion and credibility ahead of upcoming electoral cycles. With the 2027
general elections just two years away, unity within the LP is seen as critical
if it is to build on the momentum it gained during the 2023 elections.
For now, the future of the party’s leadership hangs in
the balance, pending INEC’s final decision and possible further legal or
political interventions.
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