Politics

Lagos Labour Party factionlised as new Exco emerges

Published

2 years ago

July 30, 2023

Lagos Labour Party factionlised as new Exco emerges

The crisis rocking the Labour Party (LP) is yet to fizzle out as a faction of the party in Lagos State under the leadership of Omoba Adesoyin Olumide on Friday disowned Pastor Dayo Ekong-led Executive Committee (Exco), stressing that its tenure had elapsed and, therefore, should not parade itself anymore.

Chairman of the faction, Omoba Olumide, stated this at a press conference in Ikeja attended by all his exco members, noting that the Ekong-led exco was no longer recognized by law, following the sack by the court of the National Working Committee (NWC) of the party under Barr. Julius Abure, who appointed it into office.

According to him, it is public knowledge that Abure was suspended by members of his ward in Edo State in April 2023, the reason Alhaji Bashiru Lamidi Apapa was called upon to take over the leadership, being the next in line, to rescue the party, recalling quickly that the embattled Abure “appealed his suspension at the Appeal Court but lost and the case is now listed in the Supreme Court awaiting proceedings and judgment.”

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Olumide posited that it was based on the court judgement that he and his team were given a letter by the Acting Chairman, Alhaji Apapa in April this year to act and perform as the executive committee of the Labour Party in Lagos State for three months period in consonance with the constitution, noting that the three months period expired this month of July and had since been renewed by the party’s national body.

“After the restraining order on our party national chairman, Abure, on matters bordering forgery, perjury and criminal conspiracy in April 2023, myself and my team were given a letter by the authority of the now Acting Chairman, Lamidi Apapa, in April to act and perform as the executives of our party in Lagos State for three months in consonance with the constitution.

“The three months period expired this month of July and has since been renewed by our national body,” he said.

The party chieftain said notwithstanding the party’s laid down rules and regulations, among others, the Ekong-led exco had been “going about parading themselves as the state executives of the party in manners that is rather alien to our party’s constitution,” adding that the need to maintain Labour Party’s respectable name made his exco-led to approach an Ikeja High Court to put them in check.

Olumide warned members of the public to be wary of their dealings with the Abure-led body, saying that courts of competent jurisdiction in both Benin and Abuja had warned Nigerians that anyone still having any dealings with them, does so at his or her own peril.

“It has become necessary to warn members of the public to be wary of their dealings with them as courts of competent jurisdiction in both Benin and Abuja have warned Nigerians that anyone still having any dealings with them, does so at his or her own peril,” he warned.

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Olumide also used the opportunity to debunk claims in some quarters that Apapa and his group were working for the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), even as he insisted that there was no faction in Lagos LP as, according to him, his Exco remained “the authentic one that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) will deal with.”

This was just as he assured that the LP would win the forthcoming House of Representatives bye-election in Surulere 1 Constituency of the state, which date is yet to be fixed.

On the anti-people policies of the Federal and state governments which were obviously and negatively affecting the welfare and well-being of Nigerians, the LP chieftain urged the tiers of government to urgently look at ways of reversing them, saying that the Lagos State government should revisit the Light Blue Rail Project to ensure ease of public transportation all over the state.

Besides, Otunba Olumide tasked the Lagos government to urgently consider addressing the regular harassment of motorists, especially by LASMA, VIO and other agencies, even as he sadly noted the decay in the infrastructure of the inner streets in Lagos metropolis which “has become alarming and requires the urgent attention of the state government and major stakeholders.”

“In addition to the above the Federal and state governments should reconsider the hike in tuition fees for Unity Schools and that of the universities, polytechnic and colleges of education as education is the bedrock of any society.

“We’ll advise the state government to adequately compensate the families of Lagosians who lost their lives during the #Endsars crisis and tender a public apology to their relatives,” Olumide said.

Lagos Labour Party factionlised as new Exco emerges

Politics

Labour Party collapses into APC in Plateau

Published

1 hour ago

April 24, 2025

Trends Admin

Labour Party collapses into APC in Plateau

In a major political development in Plateau State, the Labour Party in the Northern Zone has officially merged with the All Progressives Congress (APC), marking a significant shift in the region’s political dynamics. The formal defection took place this morning at the APC Secretariat, Kalwa House, Yakubu Gowon Way, Jos.

Led by former Labour Party Senatorial candidate, Barrister Gyang Zi SAN, thousands of party faithful pledged their allegiance to the APC, declaring the ruling party the most viable platform for the socio-economic transformation of their communities.

Addressing the APC State Working Committee, Barrister Zi stated that the decision was reached after extensive consultations and careful evaluation of the political landscape. He noted that the APC’s track record, particularly in implementing people-oriented policies and developmental programmes, made it the natural choice for their political aspirations.

“Our resolve to join the APC is a strategic step to build, consolidate and mobilise for the party’s continued success across all levels of governance,” Barrister Zi explained.

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Receiving the defectors, Plateau State APC Chairman, Rt. Hon. Rufus Bature, described the occasion as a historic milestone for the region. He noted that the mass defection had effectively altered the political arithmetic in the Northern Zone.

“Today marks a turning point in our political journey. The inclusion of our brothers and sisters from the Labour Party signals a broader unity and shared commitment to delivering good governance,” Rt. Hon. Bature stated.

He assured the new members that they would enjoy equal rights and privileges within the party, urging them to actively participate and take full advantage of the opportunities within the APC structure.

In a show of solidarity, goodwill messages were received from the APC leadership in the United Kingdom, and the ceremony concluded with the presentation of the APC flag to Barrister Zi, symbolising his formal induction into the party.

Joining him were all six former Labour Party flagbearers for the State House of Assembly, as well as candidates for local government chairmanship and councillorship positions—further cementing the scope and impact of the defection.

This latest development is expected to significantly influence political alignments ahead of future electoral cycles in Plateau State.

Labour Party collapses into APC in Plateau

Politics

2027: Atiku remains the best to face Tinubu, says Dele Momodu

Published

2 hours ago

April 24, 2025

Trends Admin

Dele Momodu

2027: Atiku remains the best to face Tinubu, says Dele Momodu

A chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Dele Momodu, has declared that former Vice President Atiku Abubakar remains the best opposition candidate to challenge President Bola Tinubu in the 2027 general election.

Momodu said Atiku stands out in terms of political experience, national reach, and support base.

His words: “You have to be realistic. It’s a game of numbers, and it’s also a game of your network.

“There’s no one in Nigeria today as experienced, as exposed, as networked as Atiku Abubakar from 1993 when he stepped down for Chief MKO Abiola in Jos.”

He said the opposition needs a candidate who can mobilise votes across both northern and southern Nigeria, adding that only Atiku fits the profile.

“For anybody to face a Tinubu, that person has to come from the opposite direction. Which means it must be someone who can get the North to coalesce behind him.

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“So, I pray that the coalition will be able to achieve that. I don’t know if they will, but I’m sure they are working on that. Then it must be someone who has a substantial network in the South. There is no other person I can see who has that kind of network behind him,” he stated.

Citing the example of Donald Trump’s continued relevance in American politics, Momodu said political necessity often trumps past performance.

“Why do you think the Republicans in America will risk a Donald Trump, a man who already lost the election, who already got indicted on many felonies? It is because they need him,” he said.

Speaking on Nigeria’s informal power rotation arrangement, the PDP chieftain said leadership should be about performance, not geography.

“Democracy as practised in Nigeria is done every four years because it is an examination. You pass, or you fail.

“The only qualification cannot be about where you come from. The only qualification we’re seeing now is that it should be a southerner,” he concluded.

2027: Atiku remains the best to face Tinubu, says Dele Momodu

Politics

Delta Governor Oborevwori dumps PDP for APC

Published

19 hours ago

April 23, 2025

Trends Admin

Delta Governor Oborevwori dumps PDP for APC

Governor of Delta State, Sheriff Oborevwori, has announced his defection from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC).
The announcement came after a high-level closed-door meeting held at the Government House in Asaba on Tuesday evening.
The governor’s defection is coming just after a viral video stirred speculation about his political future. In the footage, which sparked online debates, Oborevwori was seen in close company with known APC stakeholders. At the time, his media aide dismissed the clip as “old and misleading.”
Newstrends learnt senior APC figures were present to welcome the governor into their fold, signaling a significant political realignment in the South-South state.

The governor’s Chief Press Secretary, Sir Festus Ahon, said Oborevwori’s decision was based on “wide consultations with political stakeholders and in the interest of Delta’s long-term development.”

“This move was not made lightly,” Ahon emphasized. “The governor is deeply committed to the prosperity of Delta State and believes that working with the APC at the federal level will help accelerate growth and deliver better dividends of democracy to the people.”

Governor Oborevwori was elected under the PDP platform in the 2023 gubernatorial election, defeating his opponents to secure the governorship seat. His defection to the APC, however, is already being interpreted by political analysts as a calculated strategy with an eye on the 2027 general elections