Abuja, April 11, 2025 — Amid ongoing leadership turbulence within the Labour Party (LP), Lamidi Apapa, self-declared National Chairman, has reaffirmed his claim to the party’s top position, citing constitutional backing and his seniority in the party hierarchy.
In an interview with ARISE News on Thursday night, Apapa insisted that his emergence as leader is in full compliance with Article 14 of the Labour Party Constitution, which stipulates that the Deputy National Chairman assumes leadership when the substantive chairman is unable to discharge his duties.
“If the National Chairman of the party, for whatever reasons at all, is unable to perform his role as chairman, the Deputy Chairman of the party takes over. It’s automatic. I don’t have to derive authority from anybody because the constitution has allowed me to do that,” Apapa said.
The embattled political figure further noted that among all deputy chairmen of the party, he holds the highest seniority and is next in rank to Julius Abure, the now-ousted National Chairman.
“Unfortunately, among all the Deputy National Chairmen, I happen to be the oldest. On the list of officers, I’m the next person to Abure, which means I am the closest person to him in rank and everything,” he added.
Leadership Crisis Deepens
Apapa’s assertion comes at a time of deep division within the Labour Party following a Certified True Copy of a Supreme Court judgment that confirmed the expiration of Abure’s tenure and his removal from the party’s leadership.
The ruling has further complicated the already fractious leadership tussle, with various factions laying claim to the party’s control.
Apapa, however, stated that his leadership is not a permanent takeover but rather a transitional stewardship, meant to stabilize the party and restore constitutional order.
“I intend to stay for only six months,” he said. “And I have declared that I will not contest for the office of National Chairman. I also intend to zone the chairmanship back to the North, in honour of our late chairman, Alhaji Abdulkadir Abdulsalam, who died shortly after assuming office.”
Apapa said this gesture would not only uphold internal party equity but also pave the way for a fresh leadership structure that reflects the party’s geographical balance.
Tensions and Future Direction
The leadership crisis has been a lingering distraction for the Labour Party, which has been attempting to consolidate gains from its performance in the 2023 general elections, where it emerged as a formidable third force in Nigerian politics.
Observers say the crisis, if left unresolved, may damage the party’s reputation and reduce its viability ahead of upcoming state and national elections.
The Apapa faction has promised reforms and a more transparent leadership process, but the legitimacy of his claim remains contested within other camps in the party.
Meanwhile, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has yet to issue an official statement clarifying which faction it recognizes, leaving the political status of the Labour Party in a state of flux.
