Amid ongoing turmoil within the Labour Party, Abayomi Arabambi, spokesperson for the Lamidi Apapa-led faction, has offered fresh insight into why Apapa assumed leadership following the Supreme Court’s removal of Julius Abure as National Chairman.
Speaking in Abuja on Thursday, Arabambi told Vanguard that Apapa’s takeover was in strict compliance with the party’s constitution. According to him, Apapa, as the Deputy National Chairman (South), was the next in line and thus automatically became the acting national leader.
Party Constitution Backs Apapa’s Emergence
“Nature abhors a vacuum, and in our case in the Labour Party, there is no vacuum. Our constitution made clear provisions for such a scenario,” Arabambi said. “It states that if the office of the National Chairman becomes vacant through removal, resignation, or incapacitation, the Deputy National Chairman steps in.”
Arabambi dismissed any proposals for a caretaker or interim leadership body, insisting such structures have no legal backing within the party’s guiding documents.
“There is no constitutional basis for a caretaker committee or any so-called interim arrangement,” he stressed.
‘No Room for Interlopers in LP’ — Arabambi Warns
He also took a swipe at other figures claiming leadership, calling them “meddlesome interlopers.”
“Senator Nenadi Usman and those parading themselves as leaders of the party are not recognized. They should not be taken seriously,” he added.
Obi, Otti Back Caretaker Committee Despite Controversy
Arabambi’s comments come in response to moves by a group of senior party figures, including Labour Party presidential candidate Peter Obi and Abia State Governor Alex Otti, who recently endorsed Senator Nenadi Usman to lead a National Caretaker Committee.
The group said the caretaker body would oversee the party’s affairs until a national convention is held to elect new executives.
Their endorsement followed the release of the Certified True Copy of the Supreme Court judgment on the leadership tussle involving Abure and Usman, a ruling that has deepened the internal divisions within the party.
