The leadership crisis within the Labour Party (LP) has intensified, with Lamidi Apapa announcing his return and claiming leadership following a recent Supreme Court judgment. This development comes amid ongoing tensions between the Julius Abure-led National Working Committee and the Nenadi Usman Caretaker Committee, supported by Governor Alex Otti and 2023 presidential candidate Peter Obi.

Apapa, who had been absent from the political scene for the past year, cited the Supreme Court’s decision as justification for his claim to leadership. The court’s ruling set aside a previous judgment that recognized Abure as the party’s chairman, positioning Apapa as the most senior National Deputy Chairman.

In a statement, Apapa declared that all actions taken by Abure since April 4, 2023, are null and void. He announced that his National Working Committee will convene on April 14, 2025, to discuss zoning arrangements for party positions.

Supporters of Otti and Obi celebrated the receipt of the official Certified True Copy of the Supreme Court judgment, which they believe clarifies party leadership. Otti emphasized the importance of respecting the court’s decision and urged party members to adhere to democratic principles.

At a gathering, Otti and Obi presented the court document, reinforcing their commitment to follow legal processes. They planned to visit the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to submit the judgment and initiate the transition of party leadership.

In response, Abure’s camp dismissed Apapa’s claims, stating that the Supreme Court ruling does not mandate Abure’s removal. They accused the caretaker committee of misinterpreting the judgment and warned against further factionalization within the party.

The National Publicity Secretary of LP, Obiora Ifoh, expressed skepticism about the legitimacy of the caretaker committee’s actions and highlighted that the Supreme Court did not declare any leadership vacuum within the party.