[BREAKING] Lamidi Apapa: I’m The Only Person That Can Take Over As Labour Party National Chairman
Self-declared National Chairman of the Labour Party (LP), Lamidi Apapa, has asserted that he is the most constitutionally qualified person to steer the party through its current leadership crisis, citing his seniority and the party’s constitution as grounds for his claim.
Speaking during an interview with ARISE NEWS on Thursday night, Apapa referenced Article 14 of the Labour Party constitution, which he said mandates that the Deputy National Chairman automatically assumes leadership when the substantive chairman is unable to perform his duties.
“If the National Chairman of the party, for whatever reasons at all, is unable to perform his role as a chairman, the Deputy Chairman of the party takes over. It’s automatic. I don’t have to derive authority from anybody because the constitution has allowed me to do that. That is the function of a Deputy National Chairman. Unfortunately, among all the Deputy National Chairmen, I happen to be the oldest. Among them, on the list of the hierarchy, I’m the next person to Abure.
“On the list of officers, I’m the next person to Abure, which means I am the closest person to him in rank and everything. So if he has any problem at all, that warrants him to step aside, I’m the only person who can take over. It is clearly stated here.”
Addressing his plans, Apapa said his leadership is intended to be transitional, promising not to contest for a substantive position and pledging to return the chairmanship to the North in honour of the late former chairman, Alhaji Abdulsalam.
He said, “I don’t know whether you have seen a copy of my address when I was making the declaration. I said one of the things that I intend to do, that I think should make them believe that I am ready to save the party, in the sense that I’m not prepared to contest for office of the National Government. And I intend to stay for only six months. Thirdly, I intend to zone the National Chairman of the party to the north. Because the man who died, Alai Salah, is from the north and he stayed for a few months before he died. So that should allow them to produce the next chairman. And I’ve made this promise right from the start.”
Apapa’s claims come during a turbulent time in the leadership of the Labour Party, as a Certified True Copy of the Supreme Court’s judgement concerning the party’s leadership revealed that the court ruled that Abure’s tenure as the National Chairman of the party had expired, and sacked him from his position.
