Fresh crises has started rocking the Labour Party (LP) as a Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court has dismissed a preliminary objection by the National Chairman of the Labour Party (LP), Julius Abure, and three others over their suspension from the party, and declared Lamidi Apapa as the Chairman.
In a ruling on Friday, Justice Hamza Muazu held that the court had the jurisdiction to hear the matter and make the order restraining Abure and the others from parading themselves as national officers of the LP.
Abure, the National Secretary, Umar Farouk Ibrahim; the National Treasurer, Oluchi Opara; and the National Organising Secretary, Clement Ojukwu, who was suspended on April 5 filed the motion challenging the court’s powers to hear the matter.
Arguing the motion, counsel to Abure and the three other national officers, Ben Nwosu Esq, said the matter was an internal affair of the LP, which the court lacked the jurisdiction to entertain and it was, therefore, non-justiceable.
The original suit was brought by Martins Esikpali John O., Lucky Shaibu, Isah Zekeri, Omogbai Frank, Abokhalu Aliu, Ayohkaire Lateef, Job Elomah and Dr Abayomi Arabambi through their lawyer, James Onoja (SAN).
They also averred that the party chairman was suspended by the ward executives of the LP in Ward 03, Arue, Esan, North East Local Government Area of Edo State via a resolution of March 31, 2023.
Meanwhile, lawyers to the LP have vowed to appeal the latest ruling.
Apapa has directed the party's legal representatives in the presidential election tribunal to meet with him within 48 hours.
Lamidi Apapa faction of Labour Party wants Bola Tinubu to be sworn in on May 29 as Nigeria's 16th president.
The ruling was made on Friday, May 12, 2023, granting Apapa recognition as the acting chairman of the party.
As the Deputy National Chairman of the Labour Party, Apapa has now assumed control of the party’s operations following the court's decision.
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