The Labour Party (LP) in Lagos State is facing internal crisis as a faction of the party, led by Omoba Adesoyin Olumide, has disowned the Executive Committee (Exco) under the leadership of Pastor Dayo Ekong. According to Olumide, the Ekong-led exco’s tenure had elapsed, and it is no longer recognized by law due to its appointment by the sacked National Working Committee (NWC) under Barr. Julius Abure.
Olumide explained that Barr. Julius Abure, the former national chairman of the party, was suspended by his ward in Edo State in April 2023 on grounds of forgery, perjury, and criminal conspiracy. Alhaji Bashiru Lamidi Apapa was then appointed as the acting chairman to lead the party. After Abure lost his appeal against the suspension at the Appeal Court, the case is now pending at the Supreme Court.
Based on the court judgment and the suspension of Abure, Omoba Olumide and his team were given a letter by the Acting Chairman, Alhaji Apapa, to act as the executive committee of the Labour Party in Lagos State for a three-month period, which expired in July. However, the party’s national body has since renewed their mandate.
Despite this, the Ekong-led exco has been parading themselves as the state executives of the party, going against the party’s constitution. To address the situation and maintain the party’s reputation, Olumide’s faction approached an Ikeja High Court to challenge the Ekong-led exco’s actions.
Olumide warned the public to be cautious in dealing with the Abure-led body, as courts in Benin and Abuja have warned that anyone doing business with them does so at their own risk. The crisis underscores the divisions within the Labour Party in Lagos State and the struggle for control over the party’s leadership.
