Labour Party crisis festers as factions clash at presidential tribunal

The leadership crisis rocking the Labour Party worsened on Wednesday, May 17, 2023, when the two factions of the party clashed at the ongoing presidential tribunal hearing.

The courtroom became rowdy when a factional leader, Lamidi Apapa walked into the court premises with some of his supporters.

Trouble started when Apapa who is at loggerheads with the suspended chairman of the party, Julius Abure attempted to sit where Labour Party officials were.

This led to a shouting match in the courtroom as LP officials and Apapa supporters shouted at each other at the top of their voices.

However, when the LP case was called, the presidential candidate of the party in the 2023 election, Peter Obi and the party’s Women Leader, Dudu Manoga on the record of the court.

Apapa also stood up introducing himself as the national chairman of the party, but Justice Haruna Tsammani asked him to stop the introduction, saying the court won’t recognise the ‘National Chairman’ on record.

Daily Trust reports that Abure, who sat next to Obi, did not, however, attempt to introduce himself.

Last week, Apapa vowed to take control of the party claiming he is the authentic chairman of the party following the ruling of an FCT High Court sustaining Abure’s suspension. Although the party has since appealed the ruling.

The factional leader of the Labour Party has also vowed to withdraw the party’s petition and motions before the tribunal.