The Spokesperson for the Lamidi Apapa-led faction of the Labour Party, Abayomi Arabambi, has opened up about why Lamidi Apapa assumed leadership of the party after the Supreme Court ruling that removed Julius Abure.
Speaking to reporters in Abuja on Thursday, Arabambi noted that Apapa’s emergence as acting national chairman was strictly based on the Labour Party’s constitution. According to him, when the Supreme Court issued its verdict, the structure of leadership had to follow the party’s internal rules, which clearly define the chain of succession.
He explained that with the removal of Abure from office, the constitution directs that the Deputy National Chairman (South) steps in to lead the party temporarily until a new national convention is held to elect fresh executives.
“Nature abhors a vacuum, and in our case in the Labour Party (LP), there is no vacuum at this stage because our constitution made adequate provision for this eventuality,” Arabambi said. “It says, if the position of National Chairman becomes vacant by his removal, resignation, or he becomes incapacitated, Deputy National Chairman takes over.”
Arabambi also dismissed the formation of any caretaker committee or interim leadership by other party members. He insisted that such an arrangement is not supported by the party’s constitution.
“There is no provision for caretaker committee or interim leadership or any name so-called outside of what our constitution stipulates,” he added.
The spokesman also took a swipe at those claiming authority over the party without legal or constitutional backing. He referred to them as intruders.
“Senator Nanedi Usman and all those running around under the guise of leading our party are meddlesome interlopers who should not be taken seriously,” Arabambi stated.
Recently, some prominent party members—including Labour Party presidential candidate Peter Obi and Abia State Governor Alex Otti—had thrown their weight behind Senator Nenadi Usman to head a newly proposed caretaker committee. They argued that this committee would manage party activities until a convention is held.
Their decision came shortly after the Supreme Court released the Certified True Copy of its ruling, which clarified the leadership dispute between Julius Abure and Senator Usman. However, Arabambi insisted that the only lawful transition was Apapa’s assumption of office based on constitutional guidelines.
