There was mild drama and confusion at the Presidential Election Petition Court on Wednesday in Abuja when two factions, clashed during the resumption of hearing.
The court refused to recognize the Julius Abure faction and Lamidi Apapa faction who both laid claims to the national leadership of the Labour Party (LP).
Drama started after LP Women Leader, Mrs Dudu Maluga introduced herself as representative of the party in the petition, in the presence of the presidential candidate Peter Obi.
Almost immediately, Lamidi Apapa who was in court with his group, stood up and announced himself as the party’s acting national chairman.
two factions of the party had engaged themselves for recognition and to be recorded as the official representatives of the party in the pre-hearing of Obi’s petition.
Following the confusion that ensued, the Chairman of the Court, Justice Haruna Simon Tsammani, ruled against the two factions that the court would not recognize or record their respective presence as representatives of the party.
The two factions were, however, allowed to remain in the courtroom but without being recognized.
But members of the Labour party and supporters of the presidential candidate, booed Apapa out of the court room.
Security had to protect him as he was leaving in order to avoid being assaulted by a growing crowd of people.
Interestingly, Obi, who was in the court to witness proceedings, kept mute while the drama lasted.
Watch videos below:
See the way they booed Lamidi Apapa from the court today 😂😂 pic.twitter.com/L9REGtyJjG
— Nwa ❤️ (@Nwaadaz) May 17, 2023
Apapa Ole!!!
Lamidi Apapa Wharf has finally been bundled out of the court premises. 🤠 pic.twitter.com/Cp0WA4bcDh
— 4thArmOfGovt (@ayemojubar) May 17, 2023