Power Tussle in Labour Party Raises Concerns About Party's Unity Ahead of Elections

 

The Labour Party has been experiencing a power tussle between the Julius Abure and Lamidi Apapa factions, with each group claiming to have the recognized Chairman of the Party. The disagreement escalated to the point where factional primaries were held in Kogi, Bayelsa, and Imo States to produce candidates for the November 11 Governorship Elections.

Despite the factional primaries, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) published the names and particulars of candidates produced by the mainstream Abure faction. In Imo State, Joseph Ikechukwu Ukaegbu emerged from the Apapa faction, but INEC recognized Athan Nneji Achonu of the Abure faction. In Kogi, the Apapa faction held their primary at the Big Brother Hotel while the Abure faction held theirs at the KAFAS Multipurpose Hall. Col. Dr. Vincent Enemona Abu emerged as the Apapa faction's candidate, while Barr. Okeme Adejoh was the Abure faction's candidate. However, INEC recognized Barr. Adejoh as the Labour Party's Gubernatorial candidate for the state.

In Bayelsa State, Chief Diekivie Ikiogha and Udengs Eradiri held separate claims of being the party flagbearer. The former IYC President, Udengs Eradiri, emerged from the Abure faction and was recognized by INEC as the party candidate for the state.