Chaos on LP as Obi’s case against INEC and Tinubu to be withdrawn

The Julius Abure-led faction of the Labour Party has called on all arms of Nigeria’s judiciary, including tribunals and courts to ignore a letter from the Lamidi Apapa-led faction of the party.

According to the party, the letter is seeking the withdrawal of pending cases in the Election Petition Tribunals including that of the presidential candidate, Peter Obi challenging the victory of the ‘President-elect’, Bola Tinubu in the February 25 election.

However, the party in a statement issued on Tuesday by its Acting National Publicity Secretary, Obiora Ifoh, called on the security agencies especially, the police, Department of State Services (DSS) and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to arrest Apapa and his cohorts immediately, describing them as enemies of democracy.

Acting National Publicity Secretary of the party, Pastor Obiora Ifoh who made the claim said; 

 

“Daily, the evil intention of the breakaway faction of the Labour Party led by the suspended deputy national chairman, Lamidi Apapa, continues to manifest and just this morning, our legal team was confronted by the stark revelation that these men have advanced their plot by approaching all the tribunals where our numerous candidates lodged their election petitions arising from the recently held general election.

“Their actions show that they are working against the party and that they are working to destroy the party. If they claim that they have a problem with the national leadership of the party, will they also claim that they have a problem with the candidates of the party?

“What offence have the candidates of the party committed that they are now moving around to withdraw their matters from the tribunal?

“The leadership of the Labour Party is therefore calling on the tribunals to disregard any letter emanating from our suspended national legal adviser, Samuel Akingbade, to the effect that all our cases are to be withdrawn.

“We are also calling on the presidential election tribunal to disregard such letters from these ex-officials of our party asking for the withdrawal of HE Peter Obi’s petition.”

Recall that earlier in April, Apapa declared himself as the LP national chairman following a fresh legal battle in the party. In the wake of the development, Labour Party state chairmen in the 36 states of the federation disowned the factional leadership, throwing its weight behind Julius Abure as the party’s leader.