In a courtroom drama at the Presidential Election Petitions Court in Abuja on Wednesday, the names put forward as representatives of the Labour Party were dismissed by the court.
As it is customary in court proceedings, parties are required to announce their appearance when the judges enter the courtroom. This allows the lawyers involved in the case to do the same.
During Wednesday’s proceedings, the presidential candidate of the Labour Party, Peter Obi, stood up to announce his appearance as the first petitioner. Following him, the Labour Party’s national women leader, Mrs. Dudu Manuga, announced her appearance as the second representative of the party.
However, while Obi and Manuga were speaking, Lamidi Apapa, the factional chairman of the Labour Party, stood up to identify himself.
Despite not being given a microphone, he declared himself as the chairman of the party and interrupted Manuga, asserting that he was the true representative of the Labour Party.
The five-man panel of the court, led by Justice Haruna Tsammani, expressed clear displeasure with the unfolding situation. The judge made it clear that they would not recognize anyone claiming to represent the Labour Party. He acknowledged Obi’s appearance as the first petitioner but did not acknowledge any representatives from the party.
Julius Abure, the national chairman of the Labour Party, was present in court but did not announce his appearance.
This development stems from a crisis that arose when two separate courts in Abuja and Edo issued conflicting orders regarding the recognition of different leadership factions within the political party.
Meanwhile, the Tribunal has adjourned to Friday, May 19, for a continuation of pre-hearing in the petition by Peter Obi, the 2023 Labour Party (LP) presidential candidate, against the President-elect, Bola Tinubu.
The court, headed by Justice Haruna Tsammani, fixed the date after the failure of parties in the petition to agree on documents, among other reasons.
