Breaking News: Labour Party Chairman, Lamidi Apapa Addresses Allegations of Withdrawing Peter Obi’s Tribunal Suit Against Tinubu’s Victory
The factional national chairman of the Labour Party (LP), Lamidi Apapa, has clarified his stance regarding the alleged plans to withdraw the lawsuit filed by his party’s presidential candidate, Peter Obi, against Bola Tinubu’s victory in the 2023 presidential election.
Apapa refuted claims that he intended to disband the party’s presidential campaign council (PCC) and emphasized that he does not work for Tinubu. He made these statements during an interview on Splash 105.5 FM in Ibadan.
He insisted, “Our mandate must be recovered by all. It is a lie that I want Obi to withdraw from the presidential elections tribunal. I’m not hijacking the party. We will pursue that case to the end. I have no intention to withdraw the petition because I recognize him as the presidential candidate of the party. He is also bound to recognize me as the deputy national chairman, now acting chairman. He is duty-bound to recognize me. He met us at the party.”
Regarding the alleged disbandment of the Presidential Campaign Council, Apapa stated, “I did not disband the Presidential Campaign Council. The rumor is not true. What you did not make, you cannot unmake it. In the beginning, I was not the one that inaugurated it. How would I have the authority to disband it? I did not say Obi was not qualified to be the candidate of the party. I am not dealing with Tinubu. I just know him as a Nigerian and candidate of the APC.”
Reaffirming his loyalty to the LP, Apapa expressed, “The Labour Party is in my blood. When the party was formed 21 years ago, I was the first chairman of the party in Oyo State. From that time, till today, I am still in the Labour Party. Nobody can say he is more Labour Party than myself. I am looking for a day when the party will rule Nigeria.”
In response to his suspension during the party’s meeting in Asaba, Apapa called the meeting illegal and his suspension laughable. He asserted that those who attended the meeting did so out of ignorance and mentioned that a court had already issued an injunction against the individuals who convened the meeting and falsely claimed to be officers of the party.
He concluded by saying, “I was at the party before Abure, and anyone claiming that he doesn’t know me should not be taken seriously. If Obi is supporting Abure for illegality, that doesn’t stop Abure from going to jail if found guilty.”
