Victor EzejaThere was mild drama at the Presidential Election Petitions Tribunal on Wednesday, 17 May as two factions of the Labour Party clashed over ongoing leadership tussle in the party between Lamidi Apapa and Julius Abure.
The faction led by Apapa had gone to court on Wednesday morning to witness trial of the presidential election petition filed by the party’s presidential candidate, Peter Obi Against Bola Tinubu of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
Obi had filed the petition challenging the declaration of Tinubu as winner of the 25 February presidential election in Nigeria.
Abure was absent in Court but some key stakeholders of the party believed to be loyal to him were present and led by the Director-General of the Obi-Datti Presidential Campaign, Akin Osuntokun.
A video made by Roots TV Nigeria, showed some party members on the opposing faction jeering and booing Apapa as he emerged from the court after the day’s proceedings to address journalists gathered outside the premises.
The newsmen gathered to get his reactions about the court trial.
A party official asked Apapa “Who are you?” and he replied saying, “Who are you too?”
As the drama went on, the situation became tensed such that Apapa was prevented from speaking to journalists by the party members who advanced menacingly toward him shouting, “go away, we don’t want you; off the press.”
While those loyal to Apapa were insisting on him addressing the press, party members in the other factions resisted.
Apapa was whisked away for safety by security officials, to avoid being lynched by the group, chanting unprintable words against him.
Victor Ezeja is a passionate journalist with six years of experience writing on economy, politics and energy. He holds a Masters degree in Mass Communication.
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