Drama as LP factions clash in court

There was drama at the Presidential Election Petition Court (PEPC) yesterday during proceedings on the petition by the Labour Party (LP) and Peter Obi, who are challenging the declaration of President-elect Bola Tinubu as the winner of the February 25 election.

Before the court commenced sitting, members of the two factions of the LP, led by the Acting National Chairman, Lamidi Apapa and the suspended National Chairman, Julius Abure, engaged in open confrontation owing to disagreements on where to sit.

It took the prompt intervention of some court officials to restore peace, with Apapa saying afterwards that he was almost killed.

When their case was called, Peter Obi announced himself as the first petitioner, while Mrs. Dudu Manuga, who said she was the party’s National Women Leader, announced herself as the LP representative. Apapa also stood, saying he is the party’s acting National Chairman.

Justice Haruna Tsammani, who led the court’s five-member panel, said the court would not recognise anyone as representing the party, noting that it seemed that the party is not at peace.

Shortly after the court adjourned, loyalists of the opposing faction prevented Apapa from speaking with the press.

They created a rowdy atmosphere, which informed why security personnel on the ground had to force them out of the court premises.

Outside the court’s gate, the elderly Apapa, whose team appeared to have been outnumbered by the opposing faction, was physically assaulted, with his cap removed and slammed on his head by members of the opposing factions.

While addressing journalists later, Apapa, who was rescued by security officials, blamed Obi’s alleged insincerity and disregard for the rule of law for the crisis in the party.

Apapa said the trouble in the party would have been averted if Obi had withdrawn recognition from Abure, who was suspended based on the order of the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory.

Apapa, however, asked Obi to wade into the dispute objectively to amicably resolve the lingering crisis, adding that Obi must be unbiased to resolve the dispute.

He described as disgraceful the attack on him by members of the opposing faction, noting that it showed Obi’s leadership style because he witnessed the incident and preferred to stay aloof.

Apapa said that the leadership crisis would have been put behind them had Obi respected the order of the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) restraining Abure and three others from parading themselves as national officers of the party over their alleged indictment for forgery and perjury.

He said that it was wrong of Obi to recognise Abure despite the court order and as a presidential candidate seeking justice from the court of law.

Apapa denied receiving N500 million or any money or being influenced by anybody or any group to work against the party.

He also said it was wrong of Peter Obi to have claimed not to know him, adding that he worked closely with and even travelled on the same flights with Obi throughout his Presidential electioneering campaign.

He, therefore, appealed to Obi to be open-minded, neutral and objective to be able to stop the crisis.

Obidients almost killed me, says Apapa

Apapa alleged the crowd that mobbed him was hired to kill him.

He told reporters after he was released from protective custody by security operatives that he was in court to assert himself as the Acting National Chairman.

He said he sensed trouble after the Director-General of Obi Campaign Organisation, Akin Osuntokun, refused to vacate a chair reserved for the chairman of the party.

“I went to him and inquired to know in what capacity he was sitting on the seat. I told him that since I am in court today, I am the right person to sit on that chair.”

On how he was mobbed, Apapa said: “They pounced on me, removed my cap and I am very sure that if not that you people (journalists) were there, I would have been dead by now.

“They threatened that if I appear in court that something would happen.”

Osuntokun: Apapa is obsessed with recognition

Osuntokun accused Apapa of suffering from an obsession for recognition.

Speaking on Channels Television’s Politics Today, he said Apapa and his group were mercenaries doing the bidding of some disgruntled politicians.

Osuntokun said Apapa and his team will fizzle out after the court case.

He said: “Lamidi Apapa is a liar. He is obsessed with recognition.

“I don’t blame them. They have hit a jackpot. These are people who don’t have clear means of livelihood and who are now tools in the hands of those who desire to scuttle democracy in this country.

“You can extrapolate from their conduct that they are being sponsored. If it is true that they are supporting the party and Peter Obi, why are they dragging the same man through several breaches?”

“It is likely that the APC was sponsoring the Apapa group because it has a vested interest in a weak LP.

“Obi was cheated and that is so conspicuous. He was nakedly rigged out of the election. That is why he is the target. Up till now, Obi is a newsmaker and he is the most compelling.”

He said that Apapa and his group were bent on scuttling the chances of the party and therefore, there is no room for reconciliation with him.

“There is an ulterior motive behind what they are doing. They have been going everywhere to scuttle the LP’s chances.

“As it stands now, there is no room for reconciliation with these people.

“You can only reconcile with somebody who wants the progress and wellbeing of the party. These people do not mean well for the party at all.

“The whole drama will fizzle out after the court case and nobody can subvert the petition of Peter Obi in court.

“It is unimaginable that a man (Apapa) of his age wants to create a nuisance everywhere he goes. They are mercenaries,” he maintained.

The Deputy National Chairman of the party in the North, Mike Auta, denied the allegation that APC was behind the crisis, adding that it was baseless.