Factional Labour Party chieftain, Apapa, disrupts presidential election petition hearing

There was pandemonium at the Presidential Election Petition Tribunal on Wednesday, as loyalists of the presidential candidate of the Labour Party, Peter Obi, denied Lamidi Apapa from sitting on the chair reserved for the party Chairman.

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Sources at the court premises disclosed that the former governor of Anambra state had wanted the party’s National Women Leader, Dudu Manuga to stand for the party but Apapa who was in court stood up to introduce himself as National Party Chairman.

The drama started when Lamidi Apapa, factional chairman of the party, walked into the court premises alongside some of his supporters, and attempted to sit where Labour Party officials were and a shouting match ensued between his camp and the camp of the erstwhile national chairman, Julius Abure.

“Who are you?” a party official from the Abure camp asked Apapa, who fired back saying, “You don’t know me? Look at the way you are talking, who are you too?”
As the argument continued, Apapa raised his voice, saying, “Get up, you cannot sit down here.” While the Secretary of the Presidential election court, Josephine Ekperobe, quickly moved in to ensure normalcy.

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The justices who arrived to commence the day’s proceedings also refused to acknowledge the representation of the party aside the presidential candidate of the party, Peter Obi, who was also present in court.

According to Channels TV, the tribunal refused to take an appearance for the LP as acting National Chairman of the party, Lamidi Apapa, as well as the National Women’s Leader of the party, Dudu Manugu, tried to make an appearance for the Labour Party when the petition was called.

However, Justice Haruna Tsamani affirmed that that if two persons are making an appearance for the party, they will not be put on record. The court presided over by Justice Haruna Tsammani announced that the court will not recognize any party representatives.

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