Lamidi Apapa has been officially declared as the National Chairman of the Labour Party by the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court, News About Nigeria reports.
The court’s decision, which was announced on Friday, May 12th, has solidified Apapa’s position as the leader of the party.
Apapa wasted no time asserting his authority, stating that he is now in charge of the party and has instructed the party’s legal representatives involved in the presidential election tribunal to convene a meeting with him within the next 48 hours.
By virtue of being the Deputy National Chairman of the Labour Party, Apapa has assumed control over the party’s day-to-day activities as the acting chairman.
Additionally, Apapa has issued a directive mandating that the party’s lawyers must personally appear before him within the given time frame.
The purpose of this meeting is to discuss and address the ongoing matters pertaining to the presidential election tribunal.
This recent development is expected to have far-reaching implications for the Labour Party, influencing its future operations and strategic decisions.
The FCT High Court’s declaration of Lamidi Apapa as the National Chairman of the Labour Party has further deepened the crisis rocking the Labour Party.
Recall that the faction led by Lamidi Apapa distanced itself from the recent calls for an interim government and the demands that President-elect Bola Tinubu should not be inaugurated on May 29th, pending the resolution of the petitions currently before the Presidential Election Tribunal in Abuja.
According to the faction, the swearing-in of Tinubu would not significantly impact the ongoing legal battle concerning the presidential election involving the Labour Party, APC, and INEC.
In a statement released in Abeokuta, the capital of Ogun State, the faction’s spokesperson, Abayomi Arabambi, emphasized that both the Electoral Act and the Nigerian Constitution do not allow for a leadership vacuum.
Therefore, regardless of whether the President-elect is sworn in or not, there is a legal avenue to remove him if it is proven that he was not duly elected.
