The Court of Appeal has affirmed Lamidi Apapa as the authentic national chairman of the Labour Party (LP).
Bellnews reports that the court’s decision on Thursday follows a legal battle between Apapa and Julius Abure, who had been declared the LP chairman by an Appeal Court earlier in August.
The court also ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to publish the names of all the candidates presented by the Apapa-led faction of the LP in the Imo, Kogi and Bayelsa State governorship elections.
Recall that on April 5, 2023, a Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court restrained Julius Abure and three other members of the Labour Party (LP) from parading themselves as national officers of the party.
Justice Muazu later granted an order of stay execution on the suspension of Abure and the other officers in another ruling delivered on May 19, 2023.
The Edo State High Court aligned itself with the ruling in a judgement delivered on May 28, 2023, and declared Abure as the LP national chairman. This stance was also strengthened by an Appeal Court ruling in Edo State, affirming Abure as the party chairman.