BY ADEYEMI AKANJI, BAUCHI – The National Executive Committee (NEC) of the Labour Party (LP) led by Alhaji Bashir Lamidi Apapa on Wednesday in Bauchi stated that it remain committed to pursuing its petition before the Presidential Election Tribunal to a logical conclusion.
The factional acting National Chairman of the LP, Bashir Lamidi Apapa, told members of the NEC in Bauchi that the Party was solidly behind the Presidential candidate, Mr. Peter Obi and will continue to support him to reclaim his mandate.
Lamidi Apapa said that there has never been a plan to withdraw the petition saying; “We believe in the mandate and we will do everything possible to reclaim it no matter how long it takes to do that”.
Commenting on the factions within the party, Apapa said it was a normal thing in democracy, adding however that it is only a few that are talking about faction.
According to him; “There is no faction in the Labour Party. We are all one as you can see here. Everyone who maters in the LP is here in Bauchi for the NEC meeting. Labour Party remains the strongest and most followed political party in Nigeria today as was seen in the results of the last general elections. The Party will continue to grow and wax stronger”.
Apapa advised those parading themselves as factional leaders of the party to desist from doing so having been barred by a Court of the Federal Capital Territory pending the determination of the substantive case before the Court.
He further said; “Barr Julius Abure has since continued with grave impunity in contempt of the FCT High Court restraining order by conducting illegal National Executive Council meeting on 28th April, 2023 in Asaba, Delta state which resolutions have been declared null and void and of no consequences to the extent of its inconsistency with the FCT High Court Restraining order.
“Abure also indulged in the conduct of illegal gubernatorial primaries in Imo, Kogi and Bayelsa states which outcomes have been declared null and void and of no consequences to the extent of its inconsistency with the FCT High Court Restraining order,” he said.
Apapa also called on the Presidential candidate of the party, Peter Obi to watch his words in order not to create unnecessary tension within the party, stressing that what was needed now was how to collectively fight the legal battle of reclaiming the presidential mandate.
He commended the NEC members from across the country for finding it expedient to attend the meeting which he claimed was the authentic meeting unlike the one held in Asaba which was unconstitutional.
He further said; “the recent events in our party, with the advent of the 2023 general election, propelled the Labour Party (LP) as the third most influential political party in Nigeria by reason of the gains in our electoral victory in the 2023 General Elections in Nigeria.
“While the outcome of the 2023 presidential and national elections are commendable, we are also certainly challenging the outcome of the
Presidential, some national and states elections at the Election Petition Tribunals in Nigeria,” he said.
Earlier, the National Legal Adviser of the LP, Mr Akingbade Oyelekan said that the Labour Party will not be distracted by those elements who are bent in destroying the good movement for emancipation started by the party many years ago.
