Lamidi Apapa has been recognized by the court as the authentic national chairman of the Labour Party. The ruling was delivered earlier today, introducing a fresh twist into a roiling drama that poses a serious threat to the legitimacy of Peter Obi as a candidate of the party in the last presidential election.
Lamidi Apapa, one of the foundational members of the party, laid claim to the party’s leadership in opposition to Obi who was accused of invading the party from the PDP with unknown figures and corrupting its processes with naked bigotry and tribalism.
Obi joined the party on the eve of the 2023 presidential primaries after serving as running mate to Atiku Abubakar of the PDP in the previous election cycle in 2019. Questions abound about the legitimacy of his candidature, having joined the party after the process for nomination of candidates by parties to the electoral body, INEC, was already completed.
Lamidi Apapa has hinted at this inadequacy and suspended a number of party officials perceived to be loyal to Peter Obi. The ruling is expected to strengthen his control of the party and represents a major setback for Obi, particularly now that hearing into his challenge of the election outcome recently commenced.