Abure affirmed LP Chair by Appeal Court, quashing rebellion by Apapa camp
By Jeph Ajobaju, Chief Copy Editor
Julius Abure has been affirmed by the Benin Court of Appeal as the authentic National Chairman of the Labour Party (LP), effectively killing off the rebellion staged by Lamidi Apapa who earlier this year installed himself in the position to scuttle the insurgent presidential campaign of Peter Obi.
A unanimous decision of Appeal Court Justices Theresa Abadua, Fatima Akinbami, and Sybil Nwaka-Gbagi dismissed the appeal of the appellant, Lucky Shauibu.
Shauibu, who claimed to be a member of LP in Ward 3 Executive in Esan North Council in Edo had suspended Abure from the party, which was overturned at the High Court.
In her lead judgment, Abadua affirmed the decision of the High Court and held that one man cannot suspend the National Chairman of LP in line with Articles 13 and 17 of the constitution of the party and the Electoral Act 2022, particularly when the appellant is described as unknown by the party.
The Appeal Court nullified the earlier suspension and all actions taken against Abure and the party arising from the purported suspension.
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Judgment lays to rest the battle for the soul of the LP
Abure hailed the judgment and the Justices who refused to close their eyes to infractions and also thanked his team of lawyers led by GC Igbokwe, SAN.
“I thank the Obidient Movement who tarry with me and Mr Peter Obi while the impostor Mr Lamidi Apapa and his adherents who tried to trade off the mandate freely given to the Labour Party with billions of naira expended by his paymasters in the opposition parties,” Abure added, per Leadership.
Igbokwe described the judgment as sound, courageous, and unimpeachable. He reiterated Abure remains LP National Chairman until the party’s convention is held.
LP lead counsel Prest Aigbokhan insisted the judgment has laid to rest the battle for the soul of the LP.
“It is a landmark judgment that will stand the test of time. Anybody still associating with impostors parading themselves as factional leaders of the party does so at their own peril. Political parties must remain the watchdog of national conscience,” he stressed.