Labour Party Leadership Crisis: Unity Between Abure and Apapa Factions Welcomed

Yunusa Tanko, spokesman of the defunct Obi-Datti presidential campaign council, has hailed the unification of the Labour Party’s (LP) Deputy Chairman, Lamidi Apapa, and National Chairman, Julius Abure’s factions as a positive development.

Tanko noted that the decision by both factions to set aside their differences and collaborate suggests a shared common purpose.

“Politics is dynamic, and anything can happen at any time,” Tanko told media outlets. “If they have decided to work together, they may have a common purpose, and if it’s in the interest of everybody, why not?”

He added, “If it’s for the interest of everybody, it’s welcome.

But if it’s for the interest of another purpose, we can question it. It’s good for the house to remain one if that is exactly what the target was.”

The feud between Abure and Apapa began in April 2023. That month, a court judgment restrained Abure and three others from parading themselves as national officers of the party.

Abure, however, resisted with the support of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) under its National President, Joe Ajaero.

Relations between Abure and the NLC soured following a controversial national convention in Anambra that re-elected Abure and his loyalists.

This led to the NLC withdrawing its support and establishing a transition committee to conduct a fresh convention.

The recent move towards unity between the two factions is seen as a significant step towards resolving the internal conflict and stabilizing the party.