Drama in court as LP factional leaders clash over seats

There was drama at the presidential election petition court on Wednesday as Lamidi Apapa, factional national chairman of the Labour Party (LP), confronted Akin Osuntokun, director-general of Peter Obi’s presidential campaign council, over seats.

 

Trouble started when the courtroom was opened for lawyers and litigants at about 8:05am for the day’s proceedings.

 

Osuntokun and other party bigwigs were already seated in the plaintiffs’ gallery when Apapa and his colleagues approached them and demanded that they give up their seats.

 

Apapa asserted that as the rightful head of the Labour Party, he belonged in the plaintiffs’ gallery.

But Osuntokun refused to give up his seat, insisting that Apapa had no right to take the seat.

To defuse the heated situation between the two leaders, Josephine Ekperobe, secretary of the presidential election petition court, had to step in.

But the drama didn’t end there.

 

When the case was called, Obi announced appearance for himself.

 

Subsequently, Dudu Manuga, national woman leader of the party, announced appearance for the party but was quickly opposed by Apapa.

 

Due to the confusion, the five-member panel of justices led by Haruna Tsammani refused to record any representation for the party.

 

Julius Abure, the suspended national chairman of LP, was also present in court.