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Tag: Lamidi Apapa

  • Constitution amendment: NASS told to scrap immunity for Governors

    Constitution amendment: NASS told to scrap immunity for Governors

    A chieftain of the Labour Party, Lamidi Apapa has urged the National Assembly (NASS) to repeal the law which gives immunity to governors and their deputies against  prosecution.

    Apapa, a former factional National Chairman of the Labour Party, made the call in  an interview on Tuesday in Lagos.

    He was speaking on issues that should be given prominence in the ongoing constitution amendment process.

    According to him, removal of immunity clause from the constitution will reduce corruption and promote development in States.

    “I think the National Assembly should  scrap the immunity clause from the  constitution in the ongoing  constitutional amendment process.

    “It is encouraging corruption. I think we should be equal before the law in a democracy.

    “When you allow a Nigerian or somebody to feel special and be above the law for eight years and after the eighth year, he or she moves to the National Assembly to further his political career, such a person will continue to escape punishment for his wrong actions.

    “That aspect should be removed, we don’t need it. It does not encourage accountability as   governors  can steal public  funds  without facing the law at the end of the day,” Apapa said.

    According to him, anywhere justice is delayed or consequences for actions is prolonged, impunity will reign supreme.

    “If they know there is no immunity, everybody will behave well  while in office.

    “It is only in Nigeria you see people who steal billions of naira walking freely.It is in  the same country where people are lynched for stealing phones not worth more than N10,000.

    “I think everyone should be equal before the law,” he said.

    Apapa, however, said immunity should be retained for the president to allow him concentrate on his job.

    On state police, Apapa said that the prevailing insecurity in the country is enough reason for adoption of state police.

    “I think we need it (state police) now. I have said this several times.

    “About 20 years ago, as the Chairman of Labour Party in Oyo State, I led a team of some people to our House of Assembly, where I said we needed a state police.

    “People express the fear that state governors will abuse it, but the truth is, as of today ,the federal police too is being abused by some people.

    “All we need to do is to put some clauses around the operation of state police to check abuse,” he said.

    According to him, the citizens need general protection now, not individual protection.

    “State police will cover every part of the state,” he said.

    He said  the idea of a central police could not address the many security challenges faced by the country,adding federal police does not have the numerical capacity to provide security.

    “We are saying we need it (state police) now, especially at this time that we are facing issues of banditry, kidnapping everywhere in the country. “he added.

    The 10th National Assembly has begun the process of amendment of the 1999 Constitution.

    The Senate had, in February, constituted a 45-member Constitution Review Committee,headed by the Deputy Senate President , Sen.Jibrin Barau.

    Senate President, Sen.Godwill Akpabio, while inaugurating members of the committee in Abuja, said the review of the constitution had become imperative “in order to put certain things right”

    Also, the House of Representatives has inaugurated its constitutional review committee for the amendment of the 1999 Nigerian constitution as amended.

    The Speaker, Rep. Tajudeen Abbas, while inaugurating the committee, said that the step marked another significant moment in the democratic journey towards a more ‘perfect union’.

    He said that it was expected that the sixth alteration under the tenth National Assembly would be the most comprehensive

    Areas listed for possible consideration in the amendment include creation of  state police, local government autonomy, and reform of the electoral system.

  • Apapa’s Chairmanship claim is false – Labour Party faction

    Apapa’s Chairmanship claim is false – Labour Party faction

    The Julius Abure faction of the Labour Party(LP) says the claim by Lamidi Apapa that the court has affirmed him as the authentic National Chairman of the party is false.

    Malam Umar Farouk, the National Secretary of the faction said this at a news conference in Abuja on Friday.

    Farouk said that the Certified True Copy of the suit did not involved Abure.

    “This conference is called purposely to clear the air on yet another attempt by some of our former members.

    “They rebelled against the party and went ahead to shamelessly misinform members of the public on the huge progress being made to reposition LP as one of the biggest political parties in Nigeria.

    “Lamidi Apapa and a few others are being sponsored, their assignment is to ensure that no progress is achieved in the party.

    “The heavily funded dissidents have tried to mislead the courts and some section of the media to harass the party leadership but all have failed,” he said.

    Farouk said that the Court of Appeal sitting in Benin had affirmed Abure as the National Chairman of the party.

    “Only yesterday, the Court of Appeal Owerri, which sat in Abuja, gave judgement in the case brought before it by one Basil Maduka, one of the two aspirants deceived by the Apapa’s camp to participate in their illegal primaries.

    “The matter was on who the real LP candidate in the Imo governorship election is and not to challenge Abure’s position as chairman.

    “The court also ordered that the status quo remains with Sen. Athan Achonu as the validly nominated candidate of LP for 2023 Imo governorship election.

    “It noted that Basil Maduka has no locus to seek redress in the court as he is not known by the LP, ” he said.

    Farouk said that the Appeal Court in Edo had since ruled that Abure was the authentic chairman of the LP and everything done under his leadership, including nominating candidates for elections, was legal.

    He said that it thus meant that whoever was not satisfied with the ruling of the Appeal Court was permitted under the law to approach the Supreme Court to seek a review of the Appeal Court judgement.

    ”The LP took time to explain this trajectory because these men are out to ensure that the party suffers immeasurably and they will stop at nothing from achieving the mandate of their sponsors.

    ”We state categorically that Achonu remains the LP’s governorship candidate in Imo as no court has stated otherwise.”

    He said that the Independent National Electoral Commission had since published his name as the party’s candidate.

  • Labour Party factional Chairman, Lamidi Apapa opens up after court ruling

    Labour Party factional Chairman, Lamidi Apapa opens up after court ruling

    Lamidi Apapa, Labour Party (LP) factional leader, says only candidates endorsed by him can feature in the Nov.11 Kogi, Bayelsa and Imo governorship election.

    Apapa said this when he spoke at a news conference on Thursday in Abuja, saying that the judgement of the Court of Appeal in Owerri had affirmed him as the authentic National Chairman of the party.

    He said that the court also sacked the Julius Abure led faction and ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to recognise governorship candidates produced by his faction for the election.

    “You will recall that on the April 5 the FCT High court restrained Abure and others from parading themselves as national officers of the party.

    “As a result, the party appointed the Deputy National Chairman Alhaji Lamidi Apapa as the acting national chairman of the party pursuant to its constitution.

    “Sequel to that the party under my leadership wrote to INEC changing its date of primary election earlier scheduled by Abure from April 15 to April 16.

    “Notwithstanding the fact that he was under a restraining order, Abure still went ahead to conduct his primaries for Imo, Kogi and Bayelsa on those dates,” he said.

    Apapa said that on the other hand, his faction conducted primaries on April 16 making it two primaries conducted by the LP in the states.

    “Peeved by the primary conducted by me , a candidate who participated in the Abure primary took my candidate to court whilst maintaining that Abure’s candidates were the authentic ones.

    “The case was frantically defended, and the Federal High court, Owerri Division, declared the primaries conducted by me as the authentic candidate as Abure was under a restraining order as at the time he screened candidates and conducted his primaries,” he said.

    Apapa said the court recognised him as the authentic Chairman of the party.

    He said that dissatisfied with the FHC judgment, Abure’s candidates, including the winner of his primaries appealed against the judgment to the court of Appeal.

    He said that the court of appeal had also affirmed the judgment of the Federal High Court that Abure’s conduct was contemptuous as he was under a restraining order when he conducted the said primaries.

    “That restraining order is still in force even at the time this judgment was delivered,’’ he said.

  • Lamidi Apapa inaugurates new LP exco in Lagos, says no going back

    Lamidi Apapa inaugurates new LP exco in Lagos, says no going back

    The Alhaji Lamidi Apapa-led factional National Working Committee (NWC) of the Labour Party on Saturday officially inaugurated the party’s 24-man caretaker State Working Committee (SWC) for Lagos State.

    Recalled that the crisis rocking the Labour Party has worsened in Lagos State with the emergence of a factional chairman, Prince Olumide Adesoyin recently.

    Apapa-led faction disowned the Mrs Dayo Ekong-led Executive Committee, which led the party into the 2023 general elections, constituted by Mr Julius Abure-led NWC.

    Inaugurating Adesoyin-led LP State Working Committee in Lagos, Apapa, Acting National Chairman in company of other NWC members said that the LP remained a creation of the law and no one was above the law.

    According to him, there is no going back in his led NWC’s readiness to steer the affairs of the party.

    “Labour Party will not tolerate any act of indiscipline. Labour Party will not accept any act of illegality.

    “Labour Party believes that nobody is above the law and this why the level we are today is because of our belief in the court process.

    “You are on the right side. If the other camp fails to join you, the train will soon move. Tell them to come and join us because we need more people,” he said.

    According to him, the party’s grievances with former National Chairman, Mr Julius Abure, started when he allegedly presented himself as being above the law.

    According to him, the courts have restrained Abure from parading himself as National Chairman.

    “Nobody is above the law. Labour Party is a creation of law and if the party is created by law, anyone who violates the law is not a member of the party.

    “There is nothing for us to fear. There is no going back, Abure has been restrained by courts. We are not joking,” he said.

    The acting chairman said that rather than continuing in blackmailing, the Abure-led group should dissipate energy in legality.

    Apapa, who explained that he was not begging to become the National Chairman of LP, but destiny, nature and right had made him the acting National Chairman morally and legally.

    Apapa said that his-led NWC had been winning all court cases at the Federal High Court and Appeal Court, “they still want to continue but whether they like it or not the truth shall prevail.”

    On the forthcoming off-cycles governorship, Apapa assured the party faithful that INEC would soon accept the list of the LP candidates produced through the primaries conducted by the faction.

    “INEC is bound to accept our list because the commission is a creation of law and cannot be above the law. Whether INEC likes it or not, it must recognise our list of candidates.

    “INEC is bound by law to upload the names of those that we conducted primary for. It is an issue of law,” Apapa said.

    He, however, said that the party was not oppose reconciliation.

    In his inaugural address, Adesoyin said that his team had been given the power and authority to steer the affairs of the party in the state.

    Earlier in his welcome party, Mr Abass Aroyeun, the National Vice Chairman (South West) said that Apapa had given the party a new lease of life and ability to breathe.

    Aroyeun urged the party faithful nationwide to remain pillar of support to Apapa-led NWC for the party to succeed.

    NAN members of the inaugurated SWC include, Messrs Omotayo Anjorin (Deputy Chairman), Olanrewaju Ibrahim (Deputy Chairman), Kayode Yusuf (Deputy Chairman), Felix Odusanya (Deputy Chairman), Peter Olusegun (Deputy Chairman), Nnaemeka Anajemba (Secretary) and Richard Oliseyenum (Assistant Secretary).

    Other include, Azubike Peters (Treasurer), Akinrele Abioye (Financial Secretary), Kunle Okunola (Organising Secretary), Ademola Hassan (Auditor), Abass Ibrahim (Legal Adviser), Dupe Awe (Woman Leader), Elliot Ebije (Youth Leader), Samad Okufuwa (Publicity Secretary) among others.

    The event was also attended by LGA and Ward Chairmen of Labour Party and other stakeholders loyal to Apapa including some Chief Moshood Salvador.

    Some acting NWC members in attendance include, Mr Abayomi Arabambi (National Publicity Secretary) Alhaji Saleh Lawan (Secretary), Prince Favour Reuben (National Organising Secretary), Alhaji Mohammed Alkali (National Vice Chairman), among other leaders.

    NAN

  • After near lynching Apapa speaks on alleged N500m deal with Tinubu

    After near lynching Apapa speaks on alleged N500m deal with Tinubu

    The factional National Chairman of the Labour Party, Mr Lamidi Apapa has denied receiving N500 million from any quarters in order to scuttle the case of the party at the Presidential Election Petition Court, (PEPC).

    Apapa has also asked the presidential candidate of the party in the Feb. 25 Presidential Election, Mr Peter Obi to intervene in the leadership tussle of the party objectively with a view to resolving it.

    Briefing newsmen after escaping being lynched by irate youths at the PEPC on Wednesday in Abuja, Apapa denied receiving any money or being influenced by anybody or group to work against the party.

    He said that Obi must be unbiased and objective in handling the crisis in order to resolve the leadership tussle.

    Apapa decried what happened at the PEPC  in the presence of  Obi describing it as disgraceful and a test to Obi’s leadership quality.

    The factional chairman said that the leadership crisis would have been put behind them if the presidential candidate had respected an order of the  FCT High Court.

    The FCT High court had ordered Julius Abure and three others from parading themselves as national officers of the party over their indictment for forgery and perjury.

    Tracing the genesis of the crisis, Apapa said that immediately the order of court was served on the parties, he was unanimously selected to lead the party in acting capacity.

    He said that it was wrong for Obi to be according respect to Abure in spite of the order of the court and as a presidential candidate seeking justice from the same court of law.

    He implored Obi to be open minded and neutral in order to end the crisis.

    In attendance at the briefing were the Deputy National Chairman of the Party in the North, Mr Mike Auta, the National Publicity Secretly Olufemi Arabambi and the Acting Women Leader Rukkayat Salihu.

    For his part, Auta  denied that the All Progressives Congress, (APC) was behind the crisis adding that the allegation was baseless and unfounded.

    He also said that the Apapa-led faction had no intention of withdrawing the petition at the PEPC.

    Auta apologised to Nigerians who he said gave the party over six million votes during the presidential election saying  they should not be discouraged by the current leadership crisis as it would soon be over.

    He gave the assurance that the dispute would be resolved amicably.

    Earlier, there was drama at the PEPC when  two factions of Labour Party clashed over which faction had the right to be present in court.

    The drama led to Apapa receiving some punches before he was whisked away by security personnel to safety.

    The trial judge, Justice Haruna Tsammani adjourned the case of the party until Friday.

    When asked if he would be present at Friday’s sitting in spite of what happened in court on Wednesday, Apapa answered in the affirmative adding that except he would be barred by security personnel.

  • [Video] Labour Party factional leader, Lamidi Apapa booed as he leaves court

    [Video] Labour Party factional leader, Lamidi Apapa booed as he leaves court

    Videos of factional leader of Labour Party, Lamidi Apapa, being mocked and booed as he left the court today has emerged online.

    This is coming following his scuffle with other members of Labour Party over a sit in court.

    Lamidi Apapa who has been attempting to take over leadership of the party since the presidential election was concluded, was shielded by policemen and struggled to get to where his car was packed.

    He also attempted to speak to journalists but the continuous chants of “ole, ole” against him disrupted his

    speech. Watch the video below…

     

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  • [Video] Watch moment Labour Party factional leader fights over a seat in court

    [Video] Watch moment Labour Party factional leader fights over a seat in court

    Video has emerged showing Labour Party factional leader, Lamidi Apapa fighting over a seat in court in the early hours of today.

    Recall that following the conclusion of the Presidential election, Labour Party, has been immerse in leadership tussle, with Apapa gaining a favorable court ruling last week pending the determination of the party’s leadership lawsuit by a federal high court.

    In court this morning, he was spotted fighting over seats reserved by members of the party.

    Eyewitnesses said he was confronting the Director General of Peter Obi’s presidential campaign council, Akin Osuntokun and others at the Presidential Election Petition Court in Abuja.

    Watch the video below…

     

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  • Labour Party crisis deepens, suspends National Deputy Chairman

    Labour Party crisis deepens, suspends National Deputy Chairman

    The leadership crisis rocking the Labour Party (LP) deepened on Tuesday as it suspended a factional leader, Mr Lamidi Apapa, its National Deputy Chairman (South) and some other officials.

    The party also appointed acting executive members according to a statement signed by Ms Ladi Iliya, National Deputy Chairperson and Mr Kenedy Ahanotu Deputy National Secretary.

    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).