Olumide Adesoyin, a new factional leader in Lagos State, has made the conflict afflicting the Labour Party worse.
According to the News Agency of Nigeria, the Mrs. Dayo Ekong-led Executive Committee, which had led the party into the state’s general elections in 2023, was repudiated by the side led by Mr. Adesoyin.
Following the ousting of the Julius Abure-led National Working Committee of the party, Adesoyin claims that a competent court has issued a warning to the general public advising them not to interact with the Ekong-led faction.
It is well known that in April 2023, members of Abure’s ward in the state of Edo suspended him. For this reason, Alhaji Bashiru Lamidi Apapa, the next in line, was asked to assume the leadership and save the party.
The troubled Abure attempted to have his ban overturned at the Appeal Court but was unsuccessful, thus the issue was listed in the Supreme Court where it is currently pending action and a ruling, Adesoyin added.
According to Adesoyin, the national body of the party had since extended the term of his exco.
The Ekong-led exco, he claimed, had been acting contrary to the party’s established regulations by “going about, parading themselves as the state executives of the party in a manner that is rather alien to our party’s constitution.”
The State Working Committee, which is run by Ekong, quickly responded by branding the Adesoyin group as impostors “who interpret court orders to suit their selfish interest.”
In a statement, Ekong asked the public to dismiss Adesoyin’s assertion, claiming that his section was not recognized under the party’s constitution.
For the avoidance of doubt, Mr. Apapa and his cronies are suspended party members who are a part of the National Working Committee, according to Ekong. A resolution was passed suspending them at the party’s NEC meeting in Asaba, Delta State, on April 18 2023.
Anyone may inspect and verify a certified true copy of the report of the aforementioned NEC meeting.In light of the aforementioned, Mr. Lamidi Apapa and his fellow travelers lack the authority and jurisdiction to serve as officers of a party at the national and state levels.
She claims that the injunction means that, until the situation is resolved, the Apapa group cannot carry out any official duties for the party.