The Lamidi Apapa-led faction has been denounced by the Labour Party’s National Working Committee (NWC), and the NWC has also distanced itself from a concurrent National Executive Council meeting that was held in Bauchi.
The Julius Abure-led faction’s Deputy National Chairman of the Party, Comrade Ladi Illiya, told journalists on Wednesday following a stakeholders meeting that those who assembled in Bauchi to attend a phony, illegal NEC meeting do not speak for the party.
According to Newsmen, she was responding to the allegedly held NEC meeting by a faction led by Lamidi Bashir Apapa, where they reportedly pardoned the party’s presidential candidate, Peter Obi, his running mate, Yusuf Datti Baba-Ahmed, the newly elected governor of Abia State, Alex Otti, and others for attending Abure’s faction NEC meeting in Delta State a fortnight ago.
Labour Party Faction Accuses Abure Of Deceiving Peter Obi, Otti, Others
Illiya said: “We held our authentic constitutionally approved NEC meeting in Asaba about two weeks ago. State Chairmen and Secretaries from the 36 states who are here today were in attendance. So, who then are the NEC members in Bauchi?”
Speaking to reporters, Acting National Publicity Secretary Obiora Ifoh listed concerns affecting the party and its future objectives.
He said, “In furtherance of the directives from their paymasters, about six of our former but suspended members of the National Working Committee of our party, The Labour Party, are meeting in Bauchi for a fake and unlawful National Executive Council (NEC).
“Surprisingly, this is coming barely two weeks after the party held its very successful NEC meeting in Asaba, Delta state, which was attended by virtually all NEC members, including 36 state chairmen and Secretaries, all members of the National Working Committee, most of the elected members of the national assembly, leader and presidential candidate of the party, Mr. Peter Obi, party trustees including the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and Trade Union Congress (TUC) amongst others.
LP Crisis Deepens As Factions Disagree Over Planned NEC Meeting
“One of the invitees of the purported NEC is our leader and presidential candidate, Peter Obi, who incidentally, on Monday was on national television where he referred to these characters as paid agents and hirelings.
“He also made it clear that he had never met with Apapa and that there were no issues in the party and that the reported crisis is just the “rascality” by paid agents bent on derailing the party to pursue justice.”
Ifoh quoted Obi saying, “In the Labour Party, we have no issue. Bar Julius Abure is our chairman, and those things you’re seeing are just the handiwork of paid agents who are trying to create confusion.”
Ifoh claimed that in an effort to gain support, the factional party leaders have used to coercion and financial inducement in an effort to persuade members of the party to change sides.
He added that “Only last night, all our 36 member-elect of the House of Representatives and our 8 Senator-elect were represented in a caucus meeting held with the National Working Committee.
“Then again, I ask, who are these NEC members they are hoping to attend their jamboree in Bauchi?
Lamidi Apapa Reveals Peter Obi, Others Working On Labour Party Crisis
“Article 13:2A of our party constitution is clear on the composition of the Labour Party NEC. They include our state Chairmen and Secretaries, and all other officers as have been mentioned above.
“The constitution did not state that expelled and suspended officers of the party shall convene a NEC of the party.”
The All Progressives Congress (APC), which is currently in power, has two governors sponsoring Apapa, according to the Labour Party.
He said: “In their desperation to satisfy their paymasters, who we have already established to be two governors; one from South West and another from South East, while also using a top member of the APC National Working Committee who go in between them, this transactional arrangement will see them recruiting their usual customers; touts, market women, street hawkers. And people who are not members of the party.
“We also heard from a reliable source that they will attempt to have a blanket suspension of all our elected members of our NWC, a power that is alien and unheard of. They have also been dangling carrots to some of our leaders to either join them or be suspended.
“This is unfortunate because, were it not for the ex-parte order of the FCT High Court mischievously granted and sustained by Justice Hamza Muazu, which dangerously exposed the res, that is, the party, to danger instead of protecting it, these matters would have died a natural death.
“We have it on good authority that their sponsors are leaving nothing to chance and have vowed to continue to instigate crisis in Labour Party with the intention of benefiting from the instability which they hope will affect the party’s case at the tribunal.”
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