Labour Party explodes in crisis, faction disowns INEC protest plan

DDM News

A faction of the Labour Party has publicly distanced itself from a proposed protest scheduled to hold at the national headquarters of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

The group stated that the protest was neither discussed nor approved by the party leadership.

In a formal statement issued on Tuesday, the spokesperson for the Lamidi Apapa-led faction of the Labour Party said the planned demonstration was not sanctioned by any legitimate arm of the party.

Diaspora Digital Media (DDM) gathered that the Apapa-led faction has consistently maintained a parallel leadership claim since the disputed outcome of the 2023 presidential election that saw internal division within the Labour Party.

According to the statement, those behind the protest are not acting on behalf of the Labour Party and do not have the backing of its legitimate leadership.

The faction emphasized that the proposed protest could endanger national peace and security, especially at a time when the country is already grappling with widespread economic hardship and political tension.

The Apapa-led camp said no responsible political party would support a protest at such a sensitive location like the INEC headquarters, especially without due consultation and legal approval.

The statement read in part: “We want to alert the general public, especially Labour Party supporters and the security agencies, that we are not part of any planned protest at INEC headquarters.”

It continued: “Those who are mobilizing for such protest are doing so at their own risk and are not representing the interests of the Labour Party.”

The faction alleged that the protest call might be a ploy by certain individuals to create chaos and attract unnecessary attention to themselves under the guise of fighting for electoral justice.

The group also warned unsuspecting party faithful not to be misled by individuals who were using the party’s name to push personal or sponsored agendas.

The Apapa-led Labour Party noted that it would never endorse any action that might bring the party into disrepute or trigger confrontation with security agencies.

They added that the Labour Party believes in legal and constitutional methods of addressing grievances, not illegal street actions.

“We remain committed to the principles of peace, democracy, and the rule of law,” the statement emphasized.

The statement comes amid renewed calls by supporters of the Peter Obi-led presidential campaign movement for continued pressure on INEC over what they described as the theft of their mandate in the 2023 elections.

Many Obidients have remained active on social media and occasionally on the streets, demanding reforms in Nigeria’s electoral system.

However, the deepening internal crisis within the Labour Party has seen different factions pursuing conflicting political strategies.

Since the 2023 presidential election, the party has been engulfed in a leadership tussle between Julius Abure and Lamidi Apapa, with both camps making claims to the party’s national structure.

In April 2023, the crisis worsened when a court ruling led to the temporary suspension of Abure as the National Chairman of the party.

Lamidi Apapa, the then Deputy National Chairman (South), took over leadership, further dividing the party’s supporters and state chapters.

Peter Obi, the party’s 2023 presidential candidate, has largely kept silent on the internal crisis but continues to work closely with Julius Abure and his loyalists.

This has fueled more confusion among party members and the general public on who speaks for the party in official matters.

The Apapa faction has continued to release public statements and hold press conferences asserting that their leadership is legitimate and constitutionally backed.

In contrast, the Abure-led camp has accused Apapa of being a mole planted by the All Progressives Congress (APC) to destabilize the party from within.

This new disclaimer from the Apapa camp about the proposed protest reflects the deep fractures within the party and signals more trouble ahead for its unity.

The general public has expressed concern over how these internal disagreements may affect the party’s credibility and performance in future elections, especially the 2027 general election.

Political analysts believe that the Labour Party’s inability to resolve its leadership conflict could erode the gains it made during the 2023 elections.

The party, which had long existed as a fringe political entity, rose to national prominence in 2022 when former Anambra State Governor Peter Obi joined its ranks.

Obi’s entrance into the party transformed it into a major force, especially among Nigerian youths and urban voters disillusioned with the two major political parties – the APC and PDP.

Despite Obi’s impressive third-place finish in the presidential election, the internal battles within the party have since overshadowed much of that success.

Observers warn that unless reconciliation is achieved within the Labour Party, its promise as a revolutionary political movement could be short-lived.

Meanwhile, security agencies are reportedly monitoring plans for the protest, even as no formal approval has been granted for any rally at the INEC headquarters.

It remains to be seen whether any group will still proceed with the protest despite the public disapproval from the Apapa-led Labour Party leadership.

For now, Nigerians continue to watch as the Labour Party struggles to find a unified voice in the face of internal strife and post-election tensions.

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