Court nullifies Apapa-led factional Labour Party National Working Committee

The Lamidi Apapa-led factional National Working Committee, NWC of the Labour Party has been nullified by a State High Court sitting in Benin, Edo State on Friday.

They were also pepertuallyrestrained from parading themselves as National Chairman and officers of the party of the Labour Party.

In a statement signed and in a document made available to journalists in Abuja, the National Publicity Secretary of the Julius Abure led NWC, Obiora Ifoh,
Justice Emmanuel Okey Aihamoje of the Edo High Court dismissed the notice of nullification issued against Barr. Julius Abure by some Ward 3 Executive in Esan North East, Edo State.

Justice Aihamoje had ruled in his judgment that “the party ward executive in Uromi in ward 3 lacks the power under the Labour Party Constitutional particularly Art.13 & 17 and the Electoral Act 2022 as amended to remove the national chairman of the party.

The implication therefore, according Obiora, the suspension on Abure has been lifted and Apapa and his group have been perpetually restrained from acting capacity.

But in a swift reaction, Apapa has described the judgment as a mere academic exercise that held no weight.

Speaking at a press briefing in Abuja yesterday, spokesperson of the Apapa’s led NWC, Abayomi Arabambi, said that the effect of the Benin “judgment would have just merely restore back Abure’s membership of the party since he is still restrained from parading himself as National officer of the party. Unfortunately, NEC, which is the highest Organ of the party, in its meeting held in Bauchi on the 3rd of May, 2023, further suspended Abure and some others members of the party for attending an illegal NEC meeting purportedly called by Julius Abure while the restraining Order of the FCT High was still subsisting”.

Arabambi explained that the “implication of the suspension of Abure by NEC in Bauchi makes today judgment a mere academic exercise as NEC which is the highest Order of the party had already suspended Abure”

He said: “Simply put, by virtue of the restraining Order of the FCT HIGH court which is yet to be vacated or set aside, Abure still remains restrained. Also, by virtue of the NEC suspension of Abure, pursuant to its power under Article 13(2)(b)(Iv) of the Labour Party Constitution in the Bauchi, Abure remains suspended.

“The whole world is aware that Mr Allex Ijetieme SAN on Friday May 12th 2023 filed an appeal against the decision of the FCT high court which ordered the suspension and restraining of Julius Abure and three others from parading themselves as National officers pending the determination of the originating summon and motion on notice .

“Question begging for an answer is when a matter is before a court of Appeal, Can any junior court sit or adjudicate on such matter again until when appeal court decide other wise ?

“The answer is in negative. Therefore the Edo state high court judgement is an exercise in futility, null and void as the subject matter is already a subject of appeal before court of appeal, Abuja”, he added.