Apapa denies collecting N500m bribe from Tinubu, says he supports Obi
By Jeph Ajobaju, Chief Copy Editor
Lamidi Apapa, self-appointed factional Labour Party (LP) Chairman, has denied receiving N500 million from President-elect Bola Tinubu or the All Progressives Congress (APC) or anyone else to disorganise the party and scuttle its case at the Presidential Election Petitions Tribunal (PEPT).
He declared on Arise TV on Thursday he did not collect “a kobo” from any quarter, and anyone making the allegation should produce evidence he did.
LP presidential candidate Peter Obi and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate Atiku Abubakar are challenging at the tribunal, the declaration of Tinubu by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) as the winner of the presidential election on February 25.
Apapa cited on Arise TV the LP constitution which he said stipulates that in the absence of the National Chairman, the Deputy automatically steps up to assume the post in acting capacity.
He said this what he did after a court order on April 6 restrained Julius Abure from parading himself as the National Chairman.
He reiterated his support for the court case and denied allegation he had written to the court and to others that the petition be withdrawn.
What Apapa failed to say was that it was his eight hatchet men, including Abayomi Arabambi, who obtained the court order which enabled him and police escorts a few days later to invade the LP headquarters in Abuja where declared himself as acting National Chairman.
Arabambi has since been making disparaging statements about Obi and the LP.
Two weeks after Apapa declared himself acting National Chairman, the LP suspended him and other officials.
The LP hierarchy appointed acting national executive members to replace them and restore sanity to the fold, according to a statement signed by the party’s National Deputy Chairperson Ladi Iliya and Deputy National Secretary Kenedy Ahanotu.
They said the decision was taken at a National Executive Council (NEC) meeting of the party in Asaba, which was attended National Working Committee (NWC) members.
Also in attendance were Obi, state chairmen and secretaries of the party as well as LP National Assembly (NASS) members-elect, officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), NLC and Trade Union Congress (TUC).
The NEC reaffirmed and upheld the decision of the Akure convention which expelled Arabambi, former LP Publicity Secretary.
“NEC considered the disciplinary committee’s report which recommended the suspension of the former Youth Leader, Mr Anslem Eragbe, and recommended him for expulsion at the next national convention.
“Pending the next convention, NEC suspends Eragbe indefinitely.
“NEC also suspended the following National Working Committee (NWC) members: Lamidi Apapa, Alhaji Salem Lawal, Favour Reuben, Gbenga Daramola, Samuel Akingbade and Mohammed Akali,’’ the statement said.
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Court drama
At the tribunal on Wednesday, LP National Women’s Leader Dudu Manugu – who sat beside Obi – introduced herself as representing the LP, after which Apapa also introduced himself for the same purpose.
The tribunal noted the anomaly and declined to recognise either of them as LP representative. The case was adjourned until today.
After the proceedings, Obi’s supporters descended on Apapa in the courtroom and tried to rough him up.
Outside the court, a larger number of Obidients attacked Apapa and prevented him from addressing the press on the court premises. He was rescued by security agents.
Having escaped the irate youths, Apapa addressed journalists in another location where he denied being bribed with money or influenced by anyone or group to work against the LP.
He urged Obi to intervene fairly in the LP leadership tussle to resolve it, per Vanguard reporting.
Apapa decried what happened in the courtroom in the presence of Obi, describing it as disgraceful and a test to Obi’s leadership quality.
He argued the leadership tussle would have been resolved if Obi had respected the court order which restrains Abure and three others from parading themselves as LP national officers over alleged forgery and perjury.
Apapa also said
- Immediately the order of court was served on the parties, he was unanimously selected by his allies to lead the LP in acting capacity.
- It is wrong for Obi to keep on regarding Abure as National Chairman spite of the court order, since Obi himself is seeking justice from the same court of law.
- Obi should be open minded and neutral in order to end the crisis.