Lamidi Apapa, a factional chairman of Labour Party, was on Wednesday disgraced by factional party supporters who alleged his loyalty to the party has been compromised.
The drama began when he wanted to sit on the seat saved for the party chairman, a move objected by members loyal to ousted chairman Julius Abure, leading to a mild commotion in the courtroom before the arrival of the five-member justices.
The Court, however, refused to acknowledge Mr Apapa’s presence or even that of Dudu Manuga, national women leader, who stood in for the Abure faction, over the party’s internal power tussle.
The Court said their presence will not be put on record because both conflicting factions cannot appear for the party.
After the court adjourned the matter to Friday, May 19, Mr Apapa wanted to address the press but Labour Party supporters loyal to Mr Abure swiftly besieged him and stopped him from doing so.
Amidst jeers, pushes and shoves, they argued that Mr Apapa was not a representative of their party and hence would not be allowed to speak on its affairs to journalists.
The bronze-coloured traditional cap Mr Apapa adorned, was aggressively removed by the irate mob who chanted “Ole” – Yoruba word for thief. The incident nearly degenerated into fisticuffs before police officers not swooped in to shield Mr Apapa from the angry mob.
Flanked on both sides by officers, the embattled Labour Party leader was taken back inside the court building and the entrance was quickly shut off to outsiders including the press.
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