LP management disaster: Battle shifts to INEC as Abure, Usman, Apapa search recognition

The management tussle inside the Labour Celebration, LP, took a brand new twist on Wednesday, with Lamidi Apapa asserting himself because the celebration’s Nationwide Chairman.

Apapa, who made the declaration at a press convention in Abuja, cited the April 4 Supreme Court docket judgment that nullified Julius Abure’s management as the rationale for his emergence as LP’s Nationwide Chairman.

Apapa stated: “Following the choice of the Supreme Court docket on setting apart all judgements that recognise the management of Julius Abure as Nationwide Chairman, I, ALH BASHIRU LAMIDI APAPA, probably the most senior deputy nationwide, and in consonance with our celebration structure, Article 14 2(a)(b), hereby take over the operating of the affairs of our nice celebration with impact from right now, Wednesday, the ninth day of April 2025, in an performing capability, and Alh Farouk Umar Ibrahim as Nationwide Secretary.”

Supreme Court docket judgment on Abure

A five-man panel of the Supreme Court docket, in a unanimous judgment, had put aside the choice of the Court docket of Enchantment in Abuja, which recognised Abure as LP’s Nationwide Chairman.

It confused that the issues referring to celebration management are inner affairs, over which the judiciary has no jurisdiction, including that based mostly on the submissions earlier than it, Abure’s tenure had already expired.

Earlier than the apex courtroom’s ruling, LP’s Nationwide Government Committee, NEC, had met in Abia State, throughout which Abure was eliminated.

The celebration constituted a 29-member caretaker committee, with former finance minister, Esther Nenadi Usman, a former senator as chairman and Darlington Nwokocha as secretary to fill the vacuum. This place has been re-affirmed by the group led by LP’s former presidential candidate, Peter Obi and Governor Alex Otti of Abia State.

Controversy trails Supreme Court docket judgement

The Nationwide Publicity Secretary of LP, Obiorah Ifoh stated the Licensed True Copy of the Supreme Court docket’s judgment vindicated Abure-led management.

Ifoh maintained that the CTC by no means stated the management of the Abure-led government has elapsed or that Nenadi Usman and her Nationwide Caretaker Committee has been directed to take over the management of the celebration.

An announcement by Ifoh stated: “The management of the Labour Celebration ably led by Barrister Julius Abure has been vindicated by the content material of the Licensed True Copy (CTC) of the Supreme Court docket judgement between Nenadi Usman and the Labour Celebration.

“As promised earlier, we warned that Senator Nenadi Usman and her cohorts have been within the voyage of deceptive Nigerians with unsuitable interpretation of the judgement of the apex courtroom. (Hooked up is a replica of the CTC).

“There isn’t a the place it said that the management of Barrister Julius Abure led government has elapsed or that Nenadi Usman and her Nationwide Caretaker Committee has been directed to take over the management of the Labour Celebration.

“The Supreme Court docket emphatically said that points inside the political celebration are inner affairs of the celebration and that celebration supremacy have to be noticed.

“It’s pertinent for us to state clearly that there isn’t any vacuum within the management of the Labour Celebration. The very best organ of the celebration, the nationwide conference has in March 2024 elected its leaders according to the structure of the celebration and electoral act and their tenure is subsisting.

“Consequent upon that, any assembly convened in disregard to the structure of the celebration is prohibited and the end result null and void. We’re subsequently warning all these concerned within the unlawful assembly holding in Abuja to chorus from additional factionalising the celebration and respect the structure of the celebration as we won’t fail to activate the supply of the celebration on disciplinary actions.”

Talking with DAILY POST, Ifoh additionally declared that there was no vacuum in LP’s management, including that Apapa’s declaration was a part of efforts to carry Abure’s management down.

In line with Ifoh: “There isn’t a vacuum inside the LP in anyway.

“There’s a management that was elected in March 2024 for a tenure of 4 years and that tenure is only one yr previous, it should finish in 2027; there isn’t any vacuum in anyway.

“I’m positive you realize that a number of months in the past, a few of our leaders visited Apapa in his home and no one is aware of what transpired at that assembly.

“So most likely, that is the end result; all in an effort to drag Abure’s management down however we’re watching.

“Let the individuals which can be inflicting the faction come to the conclusion that factionalizing the celebration won’t in any approach profit anyone, till they arrive to that realization and pull themselves again, then there shall be peace.”

Battles shifts to INEC

In the meantime, all eyes are actually on the Impartial Nationwide Electoral Fee, INEC, because the three claimants to the LP Nationwide Chairman place search its recognition.

After its NEC assembly in Abuja earlier within the week, Otti led LP leaders to the INEC headquarters and offered the Licensed True Copy of the Supreme Court docket judgement.

The delegation was acquired by INEC’s Appearing Chairman, Mr. Sam Olumekun, and different Nationwide Commissioners.

Olumekun reaffirmed the Fee’s unwavering dedication to neutrality, transparency, and the rule of regulation within the discharge of its constitutional tasks.

With that finished, the Fee is predicted to take a choice by some means after a overview of the judgement.