Labour Party figure, Lamidi Apapa, has declared himself the rightful head of the party following the release of the Certified True Copy of the Supreme Court judgment delivered last Friday.
Apapa, who had remained largely absent from the political scene over the past year, made the announcement on Wednesday, marking a new twist in the ongoing leadership crisis within the party.
The power struggle pits the Julius Abure-led National Working Committee against the Nenadi Usman-led Caretaker Committee, which is backed by LP presidential candidate Peter Obi and Abia State Governor Alex Otti.
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Apapa claims that the Supreme Court ruling validates his position as the legitimate leader of the party, effectively discrediting the Abure-led faction.
In a statement on Wednesday Lamidi disclosed : “Following the dismissal of the cross-appeal filed by the ousted former National Chairman, Bar Julius Abure, also by the Supreme Court on 4th April 2025, what this means is that all actions and decisions taken by Julius Abure since 4th April 2023 are null and void.
“Following the decision of the Supreme Court to set aside all judgments that recognise the leadership of Julius Abure as National Chairman, I, Alhaji Bashiru Lamidi Apapa, the most senior deputy national, and in consonance with our party constitution, Article 14 2(a)(b), hereby take over the running of the affairs of our great party with effect from today, in an acting capacity, and Alh Farouk Umar Ibrahim as National Secretary.
“My leadership hereby calls on all members of the Labour Party that the National Working Committee of our party as of 2022 will meet next week, Monday, 14th April 2025, to announce our plans, which will include zoning the position of National Chairman to the North and National Secretary to the South.”
