Mr. Lamidi Apapa, the factional National Chairman of the Labour Party (LP), has reacted to the reports of receiving N500 million from opposition party to scuttle the party’s case before the Presidential Election Petition Court (PEPC).
Apapa, while addressing the press during the tribunal hearing in Abuja on Wednesday, said he was not influenced by anyone or any group, and he had no intention of working against the party.
The self-acclaimed Labour Party National Chairman stated that he narrowly avoided being lynched at the PEPC and requested Mr. Peter Obi, the party’s presidential candidate, to intercede.
Apapa stated that in order to resolve the leadership squabble, Obi must be neutral and objective in managing the problem.
Apapa condemned what occurred at the PEPC in Obi’s presence shameful and a test of Obi’s leadership qualities.
The factional chairman stated that if the presidential candidate had followed an order of the FCT High Court, the leadership conflict would have ended.
The FCT High Court had ordered Julius Abure and three others to stop posing as national officers of the party following their indictments for fraud and perjury.
Speaking on the origins of the crisis, Apapa stated that soon after the court order was served on the parties, he was unanimously chosen to lead the party in an acting capacity.
He claimed that Obi was incorrect to obey Abure despite the court’s order and as a presidential contender seeking justice from the same court of law.
Meanwhile, he begged Obi to be open-minded and unbiased in order to end the problem.
