By Angela Atabo
Crisis -ridden Labour Party (LP) on Tuesday wielded the big stick with the suspension of its factional leader, Mr Lamidi Apapa, its National Deputy Chairman (South) and some other officials.
Apapa had announced himself as the acting national chairman of Labour Party after a High Court of FCT barred Julius Abure from parading himself as the chairman of the party over fraud allegations.
Apapa was the deputy national chairman (south) of Labour Party before the court judgment.
However, Labour Party state chairmen in the 36 states of the federation had disowned Apapa while declaring support for Julius Abure as the party’s leader.
However, in a statement on Tuesday evening, Labour Party announced suspension of Apapa in a move analysts said may worsen the crisis within the party in the next few days.
The party announced the suspension of Apapa in a statement signed by Ms Ladi Iliya, National Deputy Chairperson and Mr Kenedy Ahanotu Deputy National Secretary.
It also announced appointment of new acting executive members in the statement.
They stated that the decision was taken at a National Executive Council (NEC) meeting of the party held in Asaba and attended by members of the National Working Committee.
Also in attendance at the Asaba meeting were states chairmen and secretaries of the party and its presidential candidate, Mr Peter Obi.
The Asaba meeting was also attended by the party’s National Assembly members-elect, officials of INEC, those of the NLC and the Trade Union Congress (TUC), the statement read.
It added that the NEC reaffirmed and upheld the decision of the Akure convention which expelled its former publicity secretary Mr Arabambi Abayomi.
“NEC considered the disciplinary committee’s report which recommended the suspension of the former Youth Leader, Mr Anslem Eragbe and recommended him for expulsion at the next national convention.
“Pending the next convention, NEC suspends Eragbe indefinitely.
“NEC also suspended the following National Working Committee (NWC) members: Lamidi Apapa, Alhaji Salem Lawal, Favour Reuben, Gbenga Daramola, Samuel Akingbade and Mohammed Akali,’’ the statement also read.
It added that the NEC constituted a disciplinary committee comprising the National Youth Leader, Prince Kennedy Ahanotu, Acting National Publicity Secretary, Mr Obiora Ifoh, and Acting National Legal Adviser, Mr Edun Kehinde, as members.
It listed other members as the Acting Deputy National Secretary, Mr Rotimi Kehinde and the National Vice Chairman South-South MR Anthony Ezeagwu.
The NEC also critically evaluated the 2023 general elections and noted INEC’s failure to transmit election results real-time from polling units, which it said gave room for massive manipulation of results.
The statement condemned electoral violence and the use of security agencies to intimidate voters and perpetuate other crimes in parts of the country.
“NEC noted the resilience, and doggedness of our presidential candidate and its resolve to legitimately reclaim its mandate in court.
“NEC accordingly calls on the judiciary to do the right thing irrespective of whose ox is gored,’’ the statement also read.
It stressed its implicit confidence in Mr Julius Abure-led National Working Committee (NWC).
NAN
