Factional leader of the Labour Party (LP), Alhaji Lamidi Apapa, has declared himself the acting national chairman of the party following the release of the Certified True Copy (CTC) of the Supreme Court judgment delivered on Friday, April 4, 2025.
Apapa, who had been absent from the political scene for nearly a year, announced his return in a statement signed by the factional National Publicity Secretary, Dr. Abayomi Arabambi, claiming that the court’s ruling invalidated the leadership of Julius Abure.
The Supreme Court, in a ruling by a five-member panel, had set aside an earlier judgment of the Court of Appeal in Abuja which had recognised Abure as the party’s chairman. Apapa, citing Article 14 2(a)(b) of the LP constitution, argued that he, as the most senior Deputy National Chairman, is constitutionally empowered to take over in an acting capacity.
“Following the decision of the Supreme Court to set aside all judgments that recognised the leadership of Julius Abure as National Chairman, I, Alhaji Bashiru Lamidi Apapa, hereby take over the running of the affairs of our great party with effect from today, in an acting capacity,” the statement read.
He added that all actions taken by Abure since April 4, 2023, are “null and void” in light of the apex court’s decision.
Apapa further announced that his faction of the National Working Committee (NWC) would convene a meeting on Monday, April 14, 2025, to discuss key issues, including the zoning of party leadership positions. He proposed zoning the National Chairmanship to the North and the National Secretary position to the South.
The development marks a dramatic escalation in the ongoing leadership struggle within the Labour Party, which has divided loyalties among stakeholders, including LP’s 2023 presidential candidate Peter Obi and Abia State Governor Alex Otti, both of whom support Julius Abure’s leadership.
While Abure’s camp maintains that the court judgment affirms his position, Apapa’s faction insists the ruling favours a leadership reset in line with party constitutional provisions.
With conflicting interpretations of the Supreme Court judgment and factional claims to authority, the Labour Party faces renewed uncertainty as the internal crisis threatens to further polarise its members and supporters nationwide.
