Labour Party Factional Chairman, Apapa Denies Being Tinubu’s Stooge, Speaks On Peter Obi’s Suit

Alhaji Lamidi Bashiru Apapa, Acting National Chairman of the Labour Party (LP), has denied being a stooge for President-elect Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

On Wednesday, he made the statement during the party’s National Executive Council (NEC) meeting in Bauchi.

Apapa, a long-time LP member, expressed surprise that the party’s presidential candidate, Peter Obi, did not recognize him.

Apapa explained his background in the party and how he was appointed as acting Chairman to prevent the LP from being destroyed by the Julius Abure-led faction.

He also denied rumors that his leadership intended to withdraw the LP’s lawsuit challenging the presidential election results.

Apapa declared;

Let me state categorically that the Labour Party under my leadership is committed to lawfully pursuing the matter in the presidential election petition tribunal to a logical end.

Labour Party under my leadership will accept the outcome of the presidential election petition tribunal up to the Supreme Court.

The Acting National Chairman addressed the accusations against Abure and his faction, including criminal infractions and the use of illegal means to remove eligible candidates.

He said;

This action has constituted a major problem in the party as evidenced in the Nigeria Police FCID Investigation Report with Forensic Audit, upon which the FCT High Court issued a retraining on 5th April 2023 against Aburi and three others from parading themselves as National Officers of our great party, under Julius Abure.

Apapa confirmed that an emergency NWC meeting filled the leadership void left by Abure and three other national officers.

Due to a court order, Apapa deemed the resolutions from the Aburi-led faction’s meeting on April 18 null and void.

He also declared the Imo, Kogi, and Bayelsa governorship primaries null and void.

Apapa announced during the NEC meeting that a Caretaker Committee would be formed to manage states without substantive executives for 90 days before elections, and that the NWC’s tenure would be extended by one year in preparation for the party’s national convention in 2024.