The Labour Party has been plagued by leadership turmoil amid accusations of misconduct and counterfeiting attributed to Abure.
The persistent turmoil engulfing the Labour Party has assumed a new aspect as an additional party member has proclaimed himself the legitimate National Chairman.
The self-proclaimed chairman, known as Callistus Okafor, has also petitioned the Supreme Court, seeking acknowledgment as the official chairperson of the party.
According to The Cable, Okafor, a former vice chairman of the Labour Party, revealed this surprising information during an interview with reporters on Friday, May 19, 2023.
As you may remember, there is an ongoing power struggle between the Labour Party led by Julius Abure and another faction headed by Pa Lamidi Apapa.
In April, Apapa assumed the role of interim national chairman of the party after a Federal High Court ruling in Abuja prevented Abure and four other members of the national executive from presenting themselves as official representatives of the Labour Party.
This came after Abure was dismissed by his local party officials in Edo State due to accusations of falsification, bribery, and actions against the party’s interests.
In the meantime, during a gathering of the national working committee convened in Delta State, which was graced by the party’s nominee for the 2023 national elections, Peter Obi, the Labour Party expressed its backing for Abure while ousting Apapa and four additional members of his leadership from the party.
However, Apapa, the Deputy National Chairman of the party (South), has adamantly persisted and even caused a commotion at the Presidential Election Petition Court in an attempt to establish dominance over the faction led by Abure.
Despite a recent ruling by the Appeal Court on Friday that revoked the suspension imposed on Abure and other officials within his leadership, Okafor remains steadfast in his belief that both Apapa and Abure are “fraudulent” chairpersons.
He contended that Apapa’s rise to power was illegitimate, as his “ascension would have been more legitimate if there was no mutual agreement,” further stating that the mutual agreement automatically renders Abure an unlawful chairman of the Labour Party.
Okafor asserted, “I am the sole interim national chairman of the Labour Party. Any other individual assuming such a position is counterfeit. Both Lamidi Apapa and Abure are impostors.”
“I want to make it known to everyone that on Thursday, May 18, I filed a petition with the Supreme Court of Nigeria, urging them to declare Abure’s claim to the chairmanship of the LP as unlawful.
“I have brought to the court’s attention the fact that, according to the party’s constitution, the acting secretary of the LP cannot assume the position of the chairman.”
“I have also petitioned the Supreme Court to invalidate and render ineffective anything that Abure has undertaken in his self-proclaimed role as the LP chairman.
“I specifically highlighted to the respected justices of the Supreme Court that Abure has orchestrated an illicit convention and primaries for the LP, for which he lacks legal authority.
“I have also requested the court acknowledge the authenticity of my party’s membership roster, as I possess the list and it can be duly verified.”
