Politics

LP Factions Clash Over Control Of Secretariat

Published

3 years ago

April 12, 2023

Editor

There appears to be no end in sight for the crisis bedeviling the Labour Party as supporters of the two factions laying claim to its leadership continue to engage each other in a war of words.

The dispute was taken a nudge higher when both factions continued their struggle for the control of the National Secretariat, situated in Utako, Abuja, on Wednesday.

It took the intervention of security operatives including private security guards engaged to secure the building to prevent a verbal altercation from developing into a free-for-all.

Supporters of the National Chairman, Comrade Julious Abure and members of the National Working Committee loyal to him, arrived the Secretariat for a meeting and possible screening of Governorship aspirants for Bayelsa, Imo and Kogi elections.

They barely settled down to business when the factional Acting National chairman, Lamidi Apapa arrived with his supporters in tow for the same exercise.

However, they were prevailed upon to step back following the intervention of security operatives.

Soon afterwards, a Spokesperson of Forum of LP state chairmen High Chief Rotimi Kehinde, who spoke to journalists after the encounter, explained that they came to conduct screening of governorship aspirants for Bayelsa, Kogi and Imo States but were denied entry into the secretariat.

Rotimi who is Chairman of Kwara State chapter of the party, who is an Abure loyalist said the Apapa -led faction that screened some aspirants on Tuesday, lacked the powers to perform the task.

Stating “I do not know how they manipulated one or two aspirants to come here yesterday (Tuesday).

“We wanted to hold a meeting and we discovered it was under lock and key. We met some DSS men and some vigilante groups…and they said they were told to lock the secretariat.

“In the course of discussing that, the illegal committee led by Apapa came around and were trying to engage us, and their thugs were almost attacking us.

“We resisted every temptation to cause commotion and crisis because we know the case is in court; anything in court you don’t discuss it and we don’t want to commit contempt of court.”

The spokesperson who further explained that the matter is already in court, expressed confidence that the court order would soon be vacated.

He said, “when you accuse someone of an offense, especially criminal offense, the person must be heard according to section 36 of the Nigerian constitution.

“In this case, you accuse four principal officers of the party of a very serious offense but they have not been heard by the court. The next thing we are hearing is they should stop parading themselves as officers of LP.

“We are party chairmen, a very integral part of NEC who have the final authority to rectify any decision taken by the party.

“We have not met and we told them, ‘go and wait for the court to decide,’ they don’t want to do that, they are taking laws into their hands.”

Chairman of Abia State chapter Keecee Igara, who also spoke on the issue accused the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), of stoking crisis in LP.

Igara alleged that the two parties are using “suspended members of the party to come and destabilise the party.

“We are talking about taking back Nigeria, if we must take back Nigeria, we must stand on the truth. We must stand on equity and justice.”

Politics

Defection: Peter Obi Simply Looking For ‘Food Is Ready’ Party – Wike

Published

31 minutes ago

May 6, 2026

Editor

Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, Nyesom Wike, has taken a swipe on former Labour Party presidential candidate, Peter Obi, over his recent defection.

Speaking during a media parley on Wednesday, Wike said Obi is looking for a ‘food is ready’ political party.

The minister said, “Obi was in APGA, he couldn’t build APGA. He went to Labour, he ran away again from Labour. All he’s looking for is food is ready political party.”

Recall that Obi and Rabi’u Kwankwaso, former presidential candidate of the New Nigerian Peoples Party, NNPP, on Sunday officially joined the NDC ahead of the 2027 general elections.

Politics

2027: Nobody Wants Fubara – Wike

Published

1 hour ago

May 6, 2026

Editor

The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has dismissed claims that there is widespread support for Rivers State Governor Siminalayi Fubara to return in 2027.

Speaking during his monthly media parley on Wednesday in Abuja, Wike suggested that Fubara can’t claim to enjoy unanimous backing from the public.

He explained that the political crisis in Rivers State had earlier been addressed through the intervention of President Bola Tinubu, particularly during impeachment proceedings initiated against Fubara.

According to Wike, the President advised all parties to embrace peace, leading to the withdrawal of the impeachment move by the State House of Assembly after agreements were reached.

Wike, however, alleged that the governor failed to fully adhere to the terms agreed during the arbitration process.

Reacting to claims that the people were urging Fubara to seek re-election in 2027, Wike rejected the assertion, insisting that such narratives were misleading.

Wike maintained that appearing before the President for arbitration required respect for the outcome, noting that all parties were expected to uphold their commitments.

He said: “The President, intervened in the impeachment proceeding. I said withdraw, let their be peace. And the governor said, look, I’m ready for peace. Look, I’m no longer interested for this. I will not do this. The Assembly went and withdrew the impeachment.

“Having withdrawn the impeachment, he is now too smart on what you agreed before the President. It’s like when you go on arbitration.”

Wike continued, “This one is what I don’t like. Nobody wants anybody. Please, don’t tell me that. Excuse me.

You can go and tell that to the market people or children. Two years that people say he should come out. Who told you that?

“Which politician will say that I was sleeping they came and woke me? Even if people people come to wake you, can’t you say, no, I won’t do it. I’m not prepared for it.

“That you appeared before a President of the country on arbitration, the two parties on arbitration, and these people respected Mr. President, and have done their own part.”

Politics

2027: Wike Opens Up On Preferred Rivers Guber Candidate

Published

1 hour ago

May 6, 2026

Editor

The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, on Wednesday said he hasn’t endorsed any candidate for the Rivers state gubernatorial election in 2027.

Wike stated this on Wednesday during his monthly media parley in Abuja.

Wike said that the endorsement will come only after a meeting by the joint coalition in the state.

He said: “I haven’t endorsed anybody. And I can’t endorse anybody until the joint coalition meets.”

DAILY POST reports that questions have been raised concerning the fate of current governor of Rivers State, Siminalayi Fubara, in 2027.

The FCT Minister was reported to have endorsed former State Commissioner for Works, Alabo Dakorinama George Kelly, as his preferred candidate for the Rivers State governorship election.

Sources told DAILY POST that Wike settled for George after a closed-door meeting with key political stakeholders in Port Harcourt on Monday.