The crisis-ridden Labour Party (LP) is currently facing a leadership crisis, and Alhaji Basiru Lamidi Apapa, the acting National Chairman, has attributed this turmoil to the Presidential candidate of the party in the February election, Mr. Peter Gregory Obi, and his disregard for the rule of law.
Apapa asserted that if Obi had acknowledged the suspension of Mr. Julius Abure, the party’s suspended National Chairman, based on the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory’s order, the leadership crisis could have been avoided.
During a media briefing after an incident at the Presidential Election Petition Court in Abuja, Apapa emphasized the need for Obi to approach the dispute objectively and work towards resolving the lingering crisis amicably.
Apapa demanded that Obi remain impartial to ensure a fair resolution to the disputed chairmanship tussle.
Present at the media briefing were Mike Ayuba Auta, the Deputy National Chairman of the party in the North, Olufemi Abayomi Arabambi, the National Publicity Secretary, and Mrs.
Rukayat Salihu Umar, one of the women leaders. Apapa criticized Obi’s leadership qualities, referring to the disgraceful incident that occurred in the presence of Obi at the Presidential court.
Apapa stated that the leadership crisis could have been put behind them if Obi had respected the order from the Federal Capital Territory High Court, which prohibited Julius Abure and three others from representing themselves as National Officers of the party due to their indictment for forgery and perjury.
Apapa explained that after the court order was served, he was unanimously selected as the acting National Chairman of the party.
Addressing the allegation of receiving 500 million Naira from external sources to destabilize the party, Apapa vehemently denied receiving any money or being influenced by any individual or group to work against the party’s interests.
He also countered Obi’s claim of not knowing him, stating that he had worked closely with Obi and even traveled together on the same flights during Obi’s presidential election campaign.
Apapa appealed to Obi to approach the situation with an open mind, neutrality, and objectivity in order to resolve the crisis effectively.
Additionally, Mike Ayuba Auta, the Deputy National Chairman of the party in the North, refuted the allegation that the All Progressive Congress (APC) was responsible for the crisis, considering it baseless and unfounded.
Auta apologized to the Nigerians who supported the Labour Party with over 6 million votes during the last presidential election, urging them not to be discouraged by the current leadership crisis and assuring them that the dispute would soon be resolved.
