“I’m the Most Constitutionally Qualified to Lead Labour Party, But I’ll Only Serve Six Months” – Lamidi Apapa

Factional Labour Party (LP) chairman Lamidi Apapa has asserted that he is the most constitutionally qualified person to lead the party following recent legal developments surrounding its leadership crisis. Speaking on ARISE TV’s News Night on Thursday, Apapa cited Article 14 of the party’s constitution, which empowers the deputy national chairman to step in if the national chairman is unable to discharge his duties.

According to Apapa, the release of the Supreme Court’s certified true copy regarding the leadership dispute paved the way for him to assume control, stressing that his position as the most senior national deputy chairman makes him the rightful successor to Julius Abure.

“If the national chairman of the party, for whatever reasons at all, is unable to perform his role, the deputy chairman takes over,” he said. “It’s automatic. I don’t have to derive authority from anybody because the constitution has allowed me to do that.”

Apapa emphasized his seniority among all the deputy national chairmen, describing himself as the “oldest” and “next in line” to Abure in the party hierarchy. He stated that his assumption of the leadership role was based purely on constitutional grounds and not personal ambition.

He also clarified that his tenure would be temporary, lasting only six months. Apapa said he would not contest for the substantive chairmanship and plans to oversee a transition that zones the party’s leadership back to the north. He referenced the late Alhaji Abdulkadir Abdulsalam, a former chairman from the north, saying it was only right for the region to produce the next leader.

“I said one of the things that I intend to do, that I think should make them believe that I am ready to save the party, is that I’m not prepared to contest for the national chairmanship. I intend to stay for only six months,” he said.

Apapa’s declaration comes amid ongoing internal strife within the Labour Party. The faction led by Julius Abure is currently at odds with a caretaker committee headed by Nenadi Usman, which enjoys the backing of Peter Obi, the party’s former presidential candidate, and Abia State Governor Alex Otti.

The Supreme Court last week ruled that the Court of Appeal lacked the jurisdiction to affirm Abure’s chairmanship. The judgment has since sparked contrasting interpretations, with all sides claiming legal validation of their positions.