Apapa Faction Says Fight Now Against Peter Obi
The Apapa faction of the Labour Party has reconciled with Abure, aiming to present a unified opposition against Peter Obi.
Apparently weary of the leadership struggle between the Julius Abure-led Labour Party (LP) and his camp, the Deputy National Chairman, South, of the LP, Lamidi Apapa has collapsed his faction and accepted Abure as the national chairman of the party.
Abure, who had enjoyed NLC’s support, fell out of favour with the
union following a contentious national convention held in Anambra State that
returned him and all his loyal members of the National Working Committee (NWC)
to office three months ago.
This compelled the NLC Political Commission to void the new
leadership and set up a transition committee, saddled with the task of engaging
stakeholders of the party and conducting a fresh convention in 90 days.
NLC also embarked on a series of picketing at LP secretariats
nationwide, insisting on an all-inclusive convention but Abure had his way.
A source at the LP national
secretariat, who preferred anonymity because he was not authorised to speak to
the media, explained that Abure felt the urgent need to close rank with the
Apapa’s faction following the open revolt and pressure from the NLC and his
perceived differences with Obi.
According to the source, “it
is the only logical way for him to have a united front against the threat of
the NLC in particular. I believe you already know Abure has a long history with
Apapa and Abayomi Arabambi before now,” the source explained.
When contacted, the factional spokesman of Apapa’s camp, Abayomi
Arabambi, confirmed the development.
Arabambi told THISDAY that they had no problem with Abure from the
outset because they knew he was being misled by NLC leadership.
“Yes, it is true. The reconciliation was done to fight a common
enemy.”
When asked who the common enemy was, he said: “Peter Obi and the
NLC, particularly the NLC President, Joe Ajaero.”
When reminded that the Abure-led party had reserved the 2027
presidential ticket for Obi, the spokesman of the Apapa faction said “That is a
complete fallacy.”
He said: “We are together to stop all those political hawks from
taking over our party. We thought they (NLC) were fighting for a just cause.
But it is very obvious they only want to take over our party and we are not
going to accept that.
He added: “I also want you to know that there is nothing like the
Obi-Datti Presidential Campaign here anymore. It has been dissolved. Everybody
has reverted to former governorship and presidential candidates. We don’t want
disinformation from the Labour Party.”
The National Publicity Secretary of LP, Obiora Ifoh, also confirmed
the reunion to THISDAY, saying it was not out of place for Abure to extend
olive branches to aggrieved members of the party.
According to him, both leaders reconciled to move the party ahead.
He said: “They have reconciled and Apapa has reverted to his earlier
position as the Deputy National Chairman, South. Apapa pledged solidarity with
the Abure-led National Working Committee.
“The Labour Party is one united party now except some little pockets
of opposition led by Kenneth Okonkwo. We are sure that sooner than expected, he
will join the mainstream party led by Abure,” Ifoh added.
Ifoh stressed that it was because of the reconciliation that Apapa
had been speaking in favour of one united political party led by Abure.
He also disclosed that there were ongoing talks with the Ajaero-led
NLC to put the Labour Party in good position for the politics of 2027 and the
governorship elections in Edo and Ondo scheduled later this year.
Chuks Okocha
Arise News
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