A minor conflict arose at the presidential election court on Wednesday morning regarding the true representative of the Labour Party in the petition against the election of Asiwaju Bola Tinubu.
News About Nigeria reports that during last week’s pre-hearing proceedings, the National Publicity Secretary, Obiora Ifoh, represented the Labour Party, while the suspended National Chairman, Julius Abure, was present in court but did not officially appear.
However, during Wednesday’s proceedings, the self-proclaimed Acting National Chairman, Mr. Lamidi Apapa, made his first appearance in court accompanied by his supporters.
Interestingly, he chose to sit far away from Mr. Peter Obi, who was seated next to the suspended National Chairman, Mr. Abure.
The Lamidi Apapa-led faction of the Labour Party questioned the presence of members loyal to Julius Abure, citing a High Court ruling in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) that suspended the Abure-led faction and arguing that they had no right to be in court.
During the pre-hearing session on Wednesday, the panel expected to receive a report on the harmonization of parties’ processes and the modalities for the petition’s hearing.
The appearance of Lamidi Apapa, the factional chairman of the Labour Party (LP), at the Presidential Election Petition Tribunal in Abuja on Wednesday was met with disapproval and mockery from members of the party aligned with the National Chairman, Julius Abure.
This incident took place outside the Appeal Court, where the Tribunal was conducting its proceedings in the country’s Federal Capital Territory, Abuja.
Apapa was escorted out of the premises by the police amid the loud disapproval of party members.
Prior to this, a dramatic event unfolded as the Tribunal resumed the pre-hearing of the LP presidential candidate Peter Obi’s petition against the President-Elect, Bola Tinubu.
The disagreement between the two factions of the Labour Party regarding which group should be present in court emerged just as the Tribunal began its session.
Apapa, attempting to occupy the seat reserved for Abure, faced resistance from some party members, resulting in a scuffle that occurred in the presence of Obi.
The Tribunal refused to accept appearances from both factions, noting that if two people represent the party, their names would not be recorded.
As a result, the Tribunal adjourned the matter until May 19, 2023, for the continuation of the pre-hearing.
