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  • Apapa, Abure disagree in court over plan to withdraw suit against Athan Achonu

    Apapa, Abure disagree in court over plan to withdraw suit against Athan Achonu

    The two Labour Party (LP) factions led by Mr Julius Abure and Alhaji Lamidi Apapa disagreed at the Federal High Court, Abuja over plan to withdraw a suit filed against Mr Athan Achonu, the LP candidate in the last governorship election in Imo.

    The Apapa-led faction of the party had filed the case to stop Achonu as the party’s standard-bearer for the Nov. 11, 2023 governorship poll in Imo before Justice Inyang Ekwo.

    The plaintiffs in the suit marked: FHC/ABJ/CS/1357/2023 include LP; Alhaji Apapa (Acting National Chairman); Alhaji Lawal Saleh (Acting National Secretary) and Comrade Abayomi Arabambi (National Publicity Secretary).

    Others are Comrade Anslem Eragbe (National Youth Leader);  Akingbade Oyelekan (National Legal Adviser) and Chief Joseph Ikechukwu Ukaegbu (Gubernatorial candidate, Imo State) as 1st to 7th plaintiffs respectively.

    The plaintiffs, in their motion ex-parte  sued INEC as sole defendant.

    They had sought an order of interim injunction restraining INEC from “recognising any other person or persons laying claim to the LP gubernatorial ticket in Imo governorship election slated for 11th November, 2023 other than the 7th plaintiff (Ukaegbu) who emerged from the primary conducted by the Apapa-led National Working Committee (NWC) of LP on April 16.

    They also sought an order of mandatory injunction directing or compelling INEC to recognise, upload and publish Ukaegbu’s name as LP governorship candidate in Imo, pending the hearing and determination of the motion on notice filed contemporaneously with this ex-parte application.

    They equally sought an order of mandatory injunction directing INEC to upload Apapa and Saleh’s names as the acting national chairman and acting national secretary including other Apapa-led NWC members, pending the pending the hearing and determination of the motion on notice filed contemporaneously with this ex-parte application.

    But Justice Ekwo declined to grant the motion, directing them to put INEC on notice to respond why the court should not grant the application.

    In its response, INEC prayed the court to dismissed Apapa’s motion, seeking to replace the party’s governorship candidate in Imo.

    INEC, in its affidavit to show cause pursuant to the court order, told Justice Ekwo that the plaintiffs’ suit was statue barred.

    When the matter came up on Nov. 23, 2023, Kehinde Edun, the Abure-led National Legal Adviser, appeared in court and announced appearance for LP (1st plaintiff).

    Edun told the court that he was in court to file a discontinuance notice in the matter.

    He argued that LP was joined as 1st plaintiff without authorisation, insisting that they had no case against INEC.

    Taken aback by Edun’s submission, Anderson Asemota, who had been appearing for all the plaintiffs, including the 1st plaintiff (LP), said the matter was slated for hearing.

    He said he was served with a notice of joinder by Imo governorship candidate, Achonu, through his lawyer, Okwudili Anozie, who had earlier announced appearance as party seeking to be joined.

    Asemota told the court that Edun was not the party’s national legal adviser.

    The judge, who ordered Edun to served Asemota with the notice of discontinuance, adjourned the matter until today for hearing.

    Upon resumed hearing, Asemota told the court that an affidavit of facts in opposition to the notice of discontinuance had been filed by his clients.

    Responding, Edun told the court that he was just served with the affidavit of facts earlier in the morning and would need more time to respond.

    Justice Ekwo adjourned the matter until March 6 for the adoption of processes in the notice of discontinuance.

    Meanwhile, in the application sighted by NAN, Mr Akingbade Oyelekan, who averred that he was the authentic national legal adviser of LP, said the notice of discontinuance was tailored to mislead the court.

    “I have clinically scanned through and perused the rubrics of the notice of discontinuance dated and filed 22nd November, 2023 and state that the same was contrived, concocted and tailored to mislead this honourable court as it did not emanate from the party,” he said.

    Oyelekan argued that the party’s leadership did not at any time direct or instruct the lawyers handling the matter or any other lawyer to withdraw or discontinue the suit.

    He said they were desirous of prosecuting the matter to its logical conclusion.

    He said he was duly elected as the national legal adviser of the LP in the national convention of the party held on June 10, 2019.

    In the exhibit marked “A,” Oyelekan referred to the list of members of the NWC of the party forwarded to INEC which, he said, was duly received and acknowledged by the commission on June 24, 2019.

    He averred that upon expiration of the tenure of the NWC members, the NEC of the party, in session, extended the tenure of the NWC members, including the national legal adviser for another 6 months.

    He alleged that Edun, who is parading himself as national legal adviser, was unknown to the party.

    Oyelekan urged the court to strike out the notice of discontinuance in the interest of justice.

    Gov. Hope Uzodinma of Imo was reelected in the Nov. 11, 2023 governorship election.

  • Edo Guber: Members of Apapa’s LP faction beaten to pulp in Benin

    Edo Guber: Members of Apapa’s LP faction beaten to pulp in Benin

    Some persons suspected to be members of the Lamidi Apapa’s faction of the Labour Party were on Friday gotten hold off by supporters of the party in Edo State following a tip off they  planned to conduct a primary election for LP candidates ahead of the 2024 governorship election in the state.

    According to a  video that went viral on Friday in Benin, some of the party supporters were seen beating the two suspects for coming into the state for the alleged activity.

    In his reaction to the report, the party’s state Publicity Secretary, Samson Uroupa, said the suspects were bent on creating trouble in the party.

    He called on security agencies in the state to arrest anybody laying claim to a faction in the LP, noting that the issue of faction has been dealt with by the Supreme Court.

    It was further learned that the self-proclaimed youth leader of the Apapa led fake group, Eragbe Anslem was one of the Apapa faction beaten to pulp in the Edo state.

    Some supporters of the Labour Party (LP) on X platform (formerly Twitter) have celebrated the beating and humiliation of members the Lamidi Apapa-led faction of the party in Edo State.

    An X user, @TheSerahIbrahim posted a chaotic video which she claimed was a scene of youths in an undisclosed location in Edo State where they were attacking and beating the Labour Party faction members including the party’s factional youth leader, Eragbe Anslem.

    Serah said in her post that the factional Labour Party members were attacked and beaten and hospitalised for allegedly defrauding youths in an attempt to hold the party’s governorship primary election in the state for the coming gubernatorial election.

    “Organisers of the Apapa fake Labour Party group, beaten in Edo State after defrauding youths in an attempt to host a fake Labour Party Edo State Gubernatorial Primary Election and Congress.

    “The self-proclaimed youth leader of the Apapa-led fake group, Eragbe Anslem was beaten by youths and hospitalised in Edo State after defrauding people in an attempt to host a congress and a Governorship Primary Election on behalf of Labour Party.

     

    “The attackers are still on the run,” Serah wrote.

    When contacted for confirmation and comments, the Edo State Police Public Relations Officer, Chidi Nwabuzor, said he was not aware of the incident and the exact location it happened in the state.

    Celebrating the attack, Obidient with X username, PO_GrassRootM who also posted the video wrote, “The Lamidi Apapa-led Fake Labour Party group went to Edo State attempted to host a fake Labour Party Edo State Gubernatorial Primary Election and Congress but were disgraced by the youths of Edo State.”

    Another Obidient, @ Chris_sunny11 said, “Where is Apapa and Anselem in this clip. Na them be my target, while @EqualRnJustice said, “Edo no be lagos and Imo. My Oviedos, una do well. Domo ooh.”

  • LP palaver: We expect more arrests, Lamidi Apapa group boasts

    LP palaver: We expect more arrests, Lamidi Apapa group boasts

    …hails DSS over Abure’s arrest

    …says it’s confident in Obi’s effort to recover mandate

    The Lamidi Bashiru Apapa-led faction of the Labour party has boasted that more arrests will be made as Labour Party’s crisis lingers on

    The faction also commended the DSS over the reported arrest of the embattled National Chairman of the party -Barrister Julius Abure on Friday.

    Rising from a crucial 3-hour State Working Committee meeting in Awka Friday afternoon, the state chairman, Hon Peter Okoye told journalists that Abure’s arrest was only the beginning of a floodgate of arrest of more bigwigs in the party.

    He accused them of “turning the party into their private financial estate and cashcow, until the arrival of Alh Apapa to salvage what was once a fledgling political party of the masses…”

    Making copies of the May 3,2023 resolutions of the party available, as well as the order of Federal High Court, sitting in Maitama Abuja that suspended Abure and three others from parading themselves as officers of the party, Okoye stated that contrary to a general insinuation that Alh Apapa came as a snitch planted to destabilize the aspiration of H/E Peter Obi.

    “No, far from that. We are not against Obi in any way. We are solidly behind him in his quest to reclaim his mandate.

    “It’s reason we met today to appraise progress and development within the party.

    “The state executive committee met alongside the chairmen of the 21 Councils of Anambra State, and we used the opportunity to situation of things to them, including the litigations(court cases) within the party. We presented to them the court order suspending Abure, as well as the pending appeal by him. That is his preliminary objection that the FCT High Court lacked jurisdiction in the matter in the first instance”.

    “We also explained the rationale behind suspension of the 36 State chairmen and Secretaries. Because they went to hold meeting with Abure, inviting Senators/House of Representatives members-elect, Obi and his running mate.

    “This was considered a grave offence, an affront, hence the state officers were suspended”, Okoye disclosed.

    Okoye confirmed a trending grapevine report that Alh Apapa intends to visit the Anambra state soon, admitting he has concluded plans for the visit to the State chapter of the party once Abure’s appeal was successfully dispensed with.

    Reading out their resolutions, the Idemili North Chairman/chairman of all Chairmen, Comrade Obiora Ochudo, emphasizing their unflinching support and backing of the Lamidi Apapa-led National exco.

    ” We also agreed to leave no stone unturned to ensure LP take over Anambra State in next election.

    “We are fully behind Peter Obi in his efforts to reclaim his mandate at the Presidential Election Tribunal.

    ” We are also solidly behind our state chairman, Hon Peter Okoye in his quest to make Anambra purely LP enclave in next election.

    “The party equally resolved to strengthen the party structures at the State, Councils and Ward levels…”, Comrade Ochudo added.

    Appraising the membership drive so far, the State Vice Chairman (Central), Pastor Conatus Odaba expressed satisfaction with efforts of members so far.

    He pointed out that during the February 25,2023 general election the party was accused of lacking grassroots structures. So we are determined to entrenching LP in all nooks and crannies of Nigeria, particularly Anambra State.

    He admitted that it’s open secret that virtually all citizens were already tired of the All Progressives Grand Alliance(APGA), Peoples Democratic Party(PDP), and All Progressives Congress(APC).

    ” So, the next viable option accepted by the people is LP…”, Odaba noted.

  • LP suspends Legal Adviser, 12 others for backing Apapa faction

    LP suspends Legal Adviser, 12 others for backing Apapa faction

    The Labour Party has suspended its National Legal adviser Barr. Samuel Akingbade along with twelve other officials over attempt to factionalise the party in support of Lamidi Apapa-led faction.

    Other suspended party officials include the Osun State Women leader Mrs. Susan Ojo and 11 Local Government Chairmen across the state, who were said to be involved in gross misconduct with a vow to create animosity within the party in the state.

    Addressing newsmen on behalf of the party leadership on Thursday at the party secretariat in Osogbo, Osun state Chairman, Bello Adebayo said the suspended officials were trying to factionalise the party in the state.

    “All identified card-carrying members of the Labour Party who were part of a NEC meeting that took place in Bauchi, Bauchi State on Wednesday, 3rd May, 2022 are hereby suspended indefinitely.

    “Among those identified and affected by this decision are; Barr. Samuel Akingbade (National Legal Adviser), Mrs. Susan Ojo (State Women Leader) and 11 chairmen of Local Government of our party in Osun State who participated in a meeting organized by the National Legal Adviser and suspended State Woman Leader.

    “These members stand suspended for anti-party activities and gross misconduct. This decision will be forwarded to the National Working Committee of the Labour Party and other relevant bodies including all security agencies for further actions.

    “Without prejudice, we are all aware that our party is currently facing some challenges at the national level, and this is snowballing into crisis in some states. However, we have been so lucky in Osun State, the State Executive of the party has remained united in spite of the shenanigans of some people.

    “We cannot shy away from the fact that some members of the party have been attempting to take advantage of the crisis at the national level to cause confusion and division in Osun State Chapter of the Labour Party. We equally acknowledge the presence of members with inordinate ambition, which is gradually leading to the factionalization of the party.

    “The intention is to create parallel structures at the National level and the states to lend support to the dirty agenda of scuttling the legal struggle of reclaiming the mandate of Mr. Peter Obi and Dr. Datti Baba-Ahmed in the 2023 Presidential election.

    Source: Vanguard

  • Just In: At last, peace in LP as Court lifts suspension of Abure as chairman

    Just In: At last, peace in LP as Court lifts suspension of Abure as chairman

    A State High Court sitting in Edo on Friday dismissed the notice of suspension issued against the embattled National Chairman of the Labour Party, Julius Abure, by some party members at the ward level.

    The judge, Justice Emmanuel Aihamoje, on Friday, threw out the case for lacking merit.

    This was contained in a statement, issued in Abuja on Friday, by the Acting National Publicity Secretary of the party, Obiora Ifoh, who also confirmed that the action was filed by Abure and the executives of LP Ward 3 in Esan North East of Edo State.

    In his judgement, which lasted for nearly two hours, Aihamoje judged that the party ward executive in Uromi in ward 3 lacked the power under the Labour Party Constitution, particularly Act 13 & 17 and the Electoral Act 2022, as amended to remove the national chairman of the party.

    The judge in Suit No: HUC/21/2023 therefore went ahead to impose perpetual injunction against Lamidi Apapa and his faction from removing or suspending Abure as the national chairman until a new national convention of the party is convened.

    Aihamoje further stated that the purported wards 3 executive who suspended the national chairman of the party acted outside the powers vested on it by the Labour Party Constitution.

    Reacting to the ruling, LP Ward 3 Chairman, Thompson Ehiguese, told journalists at the court premises that the judgement has put an end to impostors who are masquerading as members of the labour party in the ward.

    He said, “These charlatans claiming to be members of our party are from Edo North and members of APC. I want to use this medium to congratulate the Labour Party and the Obidient Movement that stood firmly with Comrade Julius Abure while the sponsored crisis in our great party lasted.

    “The judgement is explicitly clear that Barrister Julius Abure remains the national Chairman until the party convention holds next year. Nothing can change our collective resolve to reclaim Nigerian masses’ mandate freely given to Mr Peter Obi and the party in the last presidential election.

    On his part, Edo State Labour Party Chairman, Kelly Ogbaloi, affirmed that Labour party has been vindicated, adding that the court has confirmed Apapa and his faction are ‘tragic power seekers.’

    “Apapa, who before then was a deputy national chairman and a custodian of the constitution of the party, knew that the act of those who came to Abuja to announce the suspension of the national chairman was not doing so legally, since the action was an aberration to the provisions of the party’s constitution, instead, he ran to the court, seeking ex-parte motion to restrain the national chairman.

    “Today they have been basically told that the charade can no longer be entertained by the court”, he said.

    When contacted, the spokesman for Lamidi Apapa-led faction, Abayomi Arabambi, disclosed that he was planning to address a press conference to address the ruling.

    As of the time of filing the report, nothing has been heard from him.

  • Court shuns Apapa faction’s lawyer, others, refused to recognize them

    Court shuns Apapa faction’s lawyer, others, refused to recognize them

    There was confusion on Friday at the Presidential Election Petition Tribunal in Abuja as justices of the court failed to recognise counsel for the Lamidi Apapa led-Labour Party faction.

    TheNewsGuru.com, (TNG) recalls that just last Wednesday the factional leader was humbled out of the court.

    The drama started when the tribunal began pre-hearing session of the petition filed by Labour Party and its candidate, Peter Obi, prompting Awa Kalu to announce appearance for the party.

    Kalu, was however, countered by Oba Maduabuchi, another counsel, who rose to announce appearance also for the Labour Party, the Lamidi Apapa faction.

    He informed the court that he was handed the brief to represent the party.

    The Court subsequently intervened, stating that the Apapa faction did not file the petition, and as such cannot present legal representation for the Labour Party.

    The court further added that there cannot be two counsels representing the party.

  • LP factional chairman, Apapa says my visiting Tinubu must be collectively agreed upon

    LP factional chairman, Apapa says my visiting Tinubu must be collectively agreed upon

    The factional chairman of the Labour Party, Lamidi Apapa, has said he will not pay a visit to the president-elect, Bola Tinubu only if his party approved it.

    Apapa, while answering questions on Arise TV on Thursday noted that meeting with Tinubu must be collectively agreed upon.

    “Before I honour him, I will consult the executive of the party, so if they ask me to go ahead, I will do so. If the executive says go ahead, it becomes our position.

    “It’s not going to be my position. If they say go and see him or we are going to see him, it becomes the position of the party, not the position of Alhaji Bashiru Lamidi Apapa.

    “All of us will collectively go and see him. That is, if we have the mandate of the house, that we are going to see him,” he said.

    The leadership crisis rocking the Labour Party took a fresh twist on Wednesday as the factions loyal to Apapa and Julius Abure engaged in a fight at the Presidential Election Petition Court in Abuja.

  • Again, disgraced LP factional leader, Apapa vows to appear in court on Friday

    Again, disgraced LP factional leader, Apapa vows to appear in court on Friday

    After echoes of ‘ole, ole’ greeted him last Wednesday while in court, LP factional leader, Lamidi Apapa has vowed to appear before the Presidential Election Tribunal on Friday.

    Apapa has vowed that he will again, storm the Presidential Petition Tribunal on Friday to receive another round of insults.

    TheNewsGuru.com, (TNG) recalls that Apapa and Mr Julius Abure’s factions clashed during the court proceeding on Wednesday as they both claimed leadership of the party.

    He also accused the presidential candidate of the party in the 2023 election, Peter Obi, and the suspended National Chairman, Julius Abure of allegedly sponsoring thugs to beat him out of the Presidential Petition Tribunal on Wednesday.

    According to him, he was in the court on Wednesday because “it was my responsibility as the authentic acting National Chairman of the party to exercise my authority as representative of the party”.

  • Guber Polls: INEC snubs Apapa-led LP, releases names of candidates from Abure’s camp

    Guber Polls: INEC snubs Apapa-led LP, releases names of candidates from Abure’s camp

    Despite the internal crisis in Labour Party (LP), the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on Friday published the names and particulars of candidates produced by the mainstream Barr. Julius Abure-led faction of the party while snubbing Lamidi Apapa-led National Working Committee.

    The Julius Abure and Lamidi Apapa factions of the party have been at loggerheads over who is the recognised National Chairman of the Party.

    The power tussle snowballed into holding factional primaries to produce candidates who will participate in the November 11 Governorship elections slated to hold in Kogi, Bayelsa and Imo, later this year.

    Whilst the Apapa-faction produced Joseph Ikechukwu Ukaegbu in Imo, INEC upheld Athan Nneji Achonu of the Abure faction, according to Tribune report.

    In Kogi, factional primaries held at the Big Brother Hotel and KAFAS Multipurpose Hall separately where Col. Dr. Vincent Enemona Abu and Barr. Okeme Adejoh emerged from the Apapa and Abure factions respectively.

    INEC published the name of Barr. Adejoh who emerged from the Abure faction as LP’s guber candidate for Kogi.

    Bayelsa wasn’t any different as Chief Diekivie Ikiogha and the former IYC President, Udengs Eradiri held on to separate claims of being the party flag-bearer in the State.

    Eradiri, who emerged from the Abure faction got the election umpire’s nod as LP candidate in the State.

     

    Meanwhile, Abure has said that he will appeal the ruling of FCT High Court’s refusal to decline jurisdiction over the allegation of forgery preferred against him by the Lamidi Apapa Faction locked in a leadership crisis in the Labour Party.

    Abure, who said he does not believe he will get justice in the Justice Hamza Muazu court, said an appeal court would give the Labour Party and himself justice over the matter, brother, on the leadership crisis of the party.

    The embattled LP National Chairman said this to a civil society group and supporter of the Labour Party, Country Director Vote Must International Initiative, Dr Barry Avotu Jonson, who led his members on a solidarity visit to the Labour Party Headquarters, recently.

  • One dead, another rescued in Lagos tanker accident

    One dead, another rescued in Lagos tanker accident

    The Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service says one person died and another rescued with injury from a fallen tanker at Otto Wharf Bus Stop, Apapa – Oshodi Expressway, Mile 2, Lagos.

    The Director of the service, Mrs. Margaret Adeseye, confirmed the incident on Sunday.

    Adeseye said that the incident happened at about 4:02 a.m. on Sunday involving a 45,000 litres tanker loaded with diesel, heading towards Oshodi from Apapa area.

    She said that the tanker on motion reportedly fell on a stationed towing van, while negotiating its way out of barriers introduced by unidentified tolls collectors on Apapa road.

    “The resultant accident was mitigated by the Sari-Iganmu fire crew of the service. However, two male adults were involved. One was rescued alive with varying degrees of injury to the nearest hospital and the other recovered dead,” she said.

    The Director said the tanker and towing van have been evacuated from the road.