Lamidi Apapa, Abure reconcile, join forces to fight Peter Obi, NLC

The Lamidi Apapa faction of the Labour Party and those loyal to the National Chairman, Julius Abure have settled their differences and resolved to team up against Peter Obi and the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC).

Factional spokesman of the Lamidi Apapa camp, Abayomi Arabambi, confirmed the development to THISDAY.

According to Arabambi, the goal of the reunion was to defeat their common enemy, “Peter Obi and the NLC, particularly the NLC President, Joe Ajaero.”

He added that their goal as a group is to prevent the political hawks from taking control of the Labour Party.

Arabambi stressed that they initially believed the NLC was fighting for a legitimate cause but, according to him, it is clear that all the NLC want is to take over the party, a move he vowed ,they won’t put up with.

The Apapa factional spokesman contended the Obi-Datti Presidential Campaign is no longer in existence and has been eliminated, adding there is no automatic ticket for the duo in 2027.

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.

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.

Following the peace deal between the two factions of the party, Lamidi Papa has returned to his previous position of Deputy National Chairman (South) while Julius Abure is the National Chairman.

Until recently, the Abure and Apapa factions had a long running legal battle of supremacy in the Labour Party.

The conflict between Abure and Apapa split the party as both filed separate appeals during the presidential election petition. Apapa filed a plea to cease Obi’s presidential appeal against President Bola Tinubu. This was termed as anti-party conduct aimed at destabilising the party for the advantage of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

Abure had NLC backing but fell out of favour with the union following a disputed national convention conducted in Anambra State three months ago, which returned him and all of his loyal members of the National Working Committee (NWC) to office.

This caused the NLC Political Commission to nullify the new leadership and form a transition committee tasked with consulting party stakeholders and holding a new convention within 90 days.

The NLC also staged a series of pickets at Labour Party secretariats across the country, demanding an all-inclusive convention, but Abure prevailed.

A source at the LP national secretariat, who wanted anonymity because he was not permitted to speak to the media, stated that Abure felt compelled to align with the Apapa group in light of the open revolt and pressure from the NLC, as well as his perceived differences with Obi.