LP: Apapa-led faction working to sabotage Obi’s petition at tribunal

The Labour Party (LP) says the Lamidi Apapa-led faction is working to sabotage the petitions filed by Peter Obi, the presidential candidate, and other members at the tribunals.

Apapa, who the party said has been suspended, had declared himself the acting national chairman following the sack of Julius Abure by a court.

Others said to be suspended are Samuel Akingbade, Gbenga Daramola, Anselem Eragbe and Abayomi Arabambi, national legal adviser, national financial secretary, national youth leader and national publicity secretary respectively.

In a statement on Tuesday, Obiora Ifoh, LP’s acting spokesperson, said the candidates of the party who have lodged complaints at the tribunals following the just concluded general election did not do anything to incur the wrath of the suspended officials.

“Daily, the evil intention of the breakaway faction of the Labour Party led by the suspended deputy national chairman, Lamidi Apapa, continues to manifest and just this morning, our legal team was confronted by the stark revelation that these men have advanced their plot by approaching all the tribunals where our numerous candidates lodged their election petitions arising from the recently held general election,” Ifoh said.

“Their actions show that they are working against the party and that they are working to destroy the party. If they claim that they have a problem with the national leadership of the party, will they also claim that they have a problem with the candidates of the party?

“What offence have the candidates of the party committed that they are now moving around to withdraw their matters from the tribunal?

“The leadership of the Labour Party is therefore calling on the tribunals to disregard any letter emanating from our suspended national legal adviser, Samuel Akingbade, to the effect that all our cases are to be withdrawn.

“We are also calling on the presidential election tribunal to disregard such letters from these ex-officials of our party asking for the withdrawal of HE Peter Obi’s petition.”

Ifoh said the national executive committee (NEC) of the party has ratified him as the acting spokesperson of the LP and the relevant authorities have been notified about it.