Tussle Over Labour Party Leadership Rages On, As Another Appeal Court Affirms Apapa as National Chair

…Directs INEC to recognise Apapa-led NWC governorship candidates

The last is yet to be seen in the fight over the leadership of the labour party as the Court of Appeal in Owerri, Imo State has affirmed Lamidi Apapa as the National Chairman of the party.

The appellate court on Thursday sacked Julius Abure as the National Chairman of the Party.

The court also ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission to immediately recognise and publish the names of all the governorship candidates produced by the Apapa-led National Working Committee in Imo, Bayelsa, and Kogi states.

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The court also dismissed the governorship candidature of Senator Athan Achonu of Imo State, and others belonging to the Abure-led LP faction.

In April, Apapa said his suspension as a member of the party was invalid, noting that he remained the ‘legitimate acting chairman.’

Earlier in August, a Court of Appeal sitting in Benin City, Edo State capital, affirmed Abure as the National Chairman of the Labour Party.

Prior to this, a State High Court sitting in Edo had in May dismissed the notice of suspension issued against Abure by some party members at the ward level.

The judge, Justice Emmanuel Aihamoje, threw out the case for lacking merit.