In a bold development that has further intensified the leadership crisis within the Labour Party, Alhaji Bashiru Lamidi Apapa on Wednesday declared himself the Acting National Chairman of the party. He based his declaration on a Supreme Court judgment delivered on April 4, 2025, which he claims nullifies the authority of Barrister Julius Abure.
Addressing journalists at a press conference in Abuja, Apapa pointed to the court’s ruling in Appeal No: CA/ABJ/CV/1217/2024 and Suit No: FHC/ABJ/CS/1271/2024, asserting that the judgment invalidated all decisions and actions taken by Abure since April 4, 2023. According to Apapa, the Supreme Court not only struck out Abure’s appeal but also criticized lower courts for exceeding their jurisdiction in adjudicating internal party affairs.
“The judgment made it clear that issues concerning the internal leadership of political parties are non-justiciable. The court emphasized that such matters fall outside its jurisdiction,” Apapa said.
Quoting Article 14(2)(a)(b) of the Labour Party Constitution, Apapa stated that as the most senior Deputy National Chairman, he is constitutionally empowered to assume the role of Acting National Chairman. He further named Alhaji Farouk Umar Ibrahim as the Acting National Secretary.
Apapa’s declaration signals a new chapter in the Labour Party’s leadership tussle and could trigger another round of legal and political battles. He revealed that the party’s National Working Committee (NWC), as reconstituted in 2022, will meet on Monday, April 14, 2025, to set a new agenda for the party.
Key priorities include the zoning of the National Chairman’s office to the North and assigning the National Secretary position to the South. Apapa also announced plans to revive the dormant Board of Trustees, signaling efforts to restore structure and internal democracy within the party.
“The Labour Party must return to its foundational values of accountability, inclusiveness, and grassroots participation,” Apapa declared. He added that fresh congresses will soon be conducted at all levels—ward, local government, state, and national—to give all financial members a voice in the party’s future.
