NLC backs suspended Abure, alleges crisis ‘intended to weaken party from within,’ as LP faction declares Apapa new chairman
Crisis rocking the leadership of the Labour Party (LP) took a new twist, Thursday, as a factional group declared its leader, Bashir Lamidi Apapa as the new Chairman.
This is also as the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) in reaction to the development pledged its allegiance to the embattled national working committee (NWC) of the party headed by Julius Abure, which was suspended by a court order, earlier in the week.
Already, the headquarters of the LP secretariat in Abuja has been sealed by police operatives acting on the court order which removed Abure and his committee members from office.
On Thursday, seven members of the suspended NWC, announced the National Vice-Chairman (South), Lamidi Bashir Apapa, as the acting chairman of the party, replacing the suspended chairman, Julius Abure.
The development followed in the wake of a reported attack on the secretariat by suspected thugs who ransacked the offices of the Labour Party’s national headquarters in Utako, Abuja.
Speaking after an emergency meeting held at the party’s secretariat in Abuja, Apapa said the NWC members acted on the judgement of the Federal Capital Territory High Court which restrained Abure from parading himself as the National Chairman of the LP.
Apapa also told journalists that the NWC also reviewed the suspension of party members and executive committee that had earlier been suspended by the party leadership.
It would be recalled that Justice Hamza Muazu had also ordered that the originating processes of the court be served on the restrained officials – Abure, the National Secretary, Umar Farouk Ibrahim, the National Treasurer, Oluchi Opara; and the National Organising Secretary, Clement Ojukwu.
The judge held that the ex parte application for an interim injunction restraining the four officials by aggrieved members of the LP before the court has merit and granted the same.
Apart from Abure, the court also restrained three other officials of the party over alleged forgery.
Meanwhile, the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), reacting to the crisis of leadership rocking the Labour Party has pledged its support for the sacked chairman, Abure, while it also alleged that the suspension of the party’s leader was intended ‘to weaken the party from within or distract it from its fight to reclaim its victories at the polls.’
A statement issued by President, Comrade Joseph Ajaero, Thursday, said the labour union was ‘alarmed by the decision of Justice Hamza Muazu of the High Court in the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, via ex parte to suspend from office the National Chairman of the Labour Party, along with National Secretary, Umar Farouk Ibrahim; the National Treasurer, Oluchi Opara; and the National Organising Secretary, Clement Ojukwu over ‘unfounded/unproven an highly speculative and malicious allegations of corruption, perjury and forgery by elements whose interest in the party could best be described as doubtful or dubious.’
“The court order, according to Justice Hamza Muazu is to subsist pending the hearing and determination of a motion on notice for interlocutory injunction’
“The ruling was sequel to a motion filed along the substantive suit by eight so-called aggrieved members of the party including the chairman of the party in Abure’s ward.
“We view the decapitation of the leadership of the party with great displeasure which cannot be far from the intent to weaken the party from within or distract it from its fight to reclaim its victories at the polls.
“In light of this, we urge the courts to exercise utmost caution in entertaining frivolous suits and spurious prayers from mercenary party members as they are capable of compromising the integrity of the courts.
“We similarly join the league of those who canvass against the causal use of ex parte in light of the grievousness of the injuries they quite often inflict.
“We also note that this extant court order does not only violate the principle of presumption of innocence, a criminal pillar of our judicial system, it is an affront to justice itself. We find it curious that while ex-convicts continue to occupy ample space in the public service or space without let or hindrance those yet to be found guilty are already being harangued or hounded are being debarred from holding office.
“Finally, the continued relevance of our courts cannot be divorced from the quality of their decisions or rulings. Accordingly, our courts are advised to refrain from taking decisions which portray them as having descended into the arena, or worse still, make them picketable.
“On our part, the grounds for suspending the quartet, either in the courtroom or outside it are not there even as mischievous forces orchestrate evil. The quartet, therefore, remain executives of the party. In the light of the foregoing, we invite the honorable court to review its decision forthwith.
“On the next adjourned date, we are going to be in court in our numbers to listen to the judge,” read the NLC statement.
