Lamidi Apapa: I’m still acting LP national chairman | I was not suspended

Lamidi Apapa, the acting national chairman of the Labour Party (LP), says his suspension as a member of the party is invalid.

Speaking on Wednesday in an interview with Channels Television, Apapa insisted that he is still the acting national chairman of the LP.

On Tuesday, the national working committee (NEC) of LP suspended Apapa for “anti-party activities, contravening the constitution of the party and running of parallel leadership and putting the party in total disrepute”.

Five members of the party’s executive council were also suspended.

Recently, a federal capital territory (FCT) high court issued an order restraining Julius Abure from parading himself as the LP’s national chairman.

Following the order, Apapa, who was the deputy national of the LP (south), declared himself as the party’s national chairman.

Speaking on his suspension, Apapa said his suspension was invalid because Abure did not have the legal backing to convey the NEC meeting of the party.

He added that his rejection by officials of the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) was due to the lack of knowledge of the party’s history and the roles he played.

“I was not suspended. I was not invited to the NEC meeting. They think that I was not supposed to be there. As of today, I’m the only legitimate acting national chairman of the party.

“I’m not struggling with Abure. I’m there in an acting capacity. The constitution of the party is so clear on this, that for whatever reason if the national chairman is unable to perform his role, the deputy takes over. That is exactly what has happened.

“Nobody is sponsoring me. Nobody has suspended me. I remain the acting national chairman of the party. I maintain that.”