The Labour Party (LP) has been thrown into deeper crisis following the dramatic return of factional leader, Lamidi Apapa, who declared himself the rightful national chairman of the party after a recent Supreme Court judgment. His declaration has now split the party into three major factions — the Abure-led group, the Nenadi Usman-led Caretaker Committee, and the Apapa group.
Apapa, who had gone quiet for nearly a year, resurfaced on Wednesday claiming that the Supreme Court verdict, which nullified the leadership of Julius Abure, had given him the right to take over as acting national chairman.
“I, Alhaji Bashiru Lamidi Apapa, the most senior deputy national, and in line with our party constitution, hereby take over the running of the affairs of our great party with effect from today in an acting capacity,” he said in a statement signed by factional National Publicity Secretary, Dr. Abayomi Arabambi.
Apapa added that his National Working Committee (NWC) from 2022 would meet on Monday, April 14, 2025, to decide on zoning the position of National Chairman to the North and National Secretary to the South.
Otti and Obi Present Supreme Court Judgment to Stakeholders and INEC
On the same day, Governor Alex Otti and Labour Party’s 2023 presidential candidate, Peter Obi, led a stakeholders’ engagement in Abuja where they presented the Certified True Copy (CTC) of the Supreme Court judgment.
“The 48-page document was very clear in saying that it is all of you seated here that constitute the leadership of the party,” Otti told stakeholders.
He explained that the court had clearly ruled in favour of the appeal brought by Senator Esther Nenadi Usman and Senator Darlington Nwokocha, setting aside all lower court judgments that had earlier recognised Julius Abure as chairman.
“We are law-abiding people. If we were not, we would have dragged the party office long ago. But we chose to follow due process, and that has brought us here today,” Otti added.
Peter Obi, who also addressed the gathering, praised party supporters for their patience and announced immediate plans to take the Supreme Court ruling to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for enforcement.
“We will go now to INEC to submit this document and start the process of rebuilding the party with their cooperation,” Obi said.
The high-powered delegation, including Otti, Obi, and other party leaders, proceeded straight from the meeting to INEC headquarters where they met with INEC’s acting Chairman, Sam Olumekun. Otti formally submitted the court judgment and held talks aimed at strengthening the party’s collaboration with the electoral body.
INEC Chairman Olumekun, in response, assured the delegation of the commission’s neutrality and commitment to upholding the rule of law.
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Abure Faction Rejects Claim, Says Supporters ‘Jubilating for Nothing
However, the camp of Julius Abure strongly rejected the claim that he had been removed as national chairman. In a statement to journalists, the party’s National Publicity Secretary, Obiora Ifoh, said, “They are just jubilating for nothing. The Supreme Court judgment is clear about the position of the party leadership.”
He argued that the ruling did not instruct Abure to step down nor did it validate the caretaker committee led by Senator Usman. Ifoh insisted that Abure was still the legitimate chairman as elected by the party’s national convention in March 2024.
“There is no vacuum in the leadership of the Labour Party. Any meeting convened without respect to the party’s constitution is illegal,” Ifoh declared.
He further warned that continued factional meetings could attract disciplinary actions from the party, calling on all aggrieved members to respect internal processes.
Labour Congress Threatens to Occupy Party Offices Nationwide
In a related development, the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) expressed frustration over what it described as the Abure-led NWC’s refusal to obey the court ruling. NLC President, Joe Ajaero, directed union leaders to prepare for mass occupation of all 36 state LP offices and the national secretariat.
Ajaero warned that the union would not stand by while the rule of law was undermined. “We cannot continue to fold our hands and watch the Julius Abure-led National Working Committee defy the Supreme Court’s pronouncement,” he said.
But Abure’s spokesperson, Obiora Ifoh, dismissed the NLC’s threat, calling it “pure blackmail.”
Ifoh said, “Hooliganism and rascality are not traits of responsible unionism. We remain committed to lawful leadership and will resist all attempts to intimidate or destabilise the party.”
As of now, the Labour Party remains divided into three factions, each laying claim to legitimacy. The Supreme Court judgment, instead of resolving the crisis, appears to have deepened it, with Lamidi Apapa re-emerging as a third force amid the battle between the Abure-led NWC and the Nenadi Usman-led Caretaker Committee.
With the 2027 general elections approaching, political analysts warn that a divided LP may lose the momentum it gained during the 2023 polls unless reconciliation efforts are urgently pursued.
As Peter Obi noted, “The leadership of every party should be humble enough to leave at the expiration of their tenure.” Whether the various factions of the LP will heed that advice remains uncertain.