Following two contradictory high court rulings over leadership of the Labour Party (LP) in Nigeria, the Julius Abure and Lamidi Apapa factions of the party have been at loggerheads over who is the recognised National Chairman of the Party.
The power tussle snowballed into holding factional primaries to produce candidates who will participate in the November 11 governorship elections holding in Kogi, Bayelsa and Imo States.
Nigeria’s Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), has interestingly, published only the names and particulars of candidates produced by the mainstream Abure faction.
Whilst the Apapa faction produced Joseph Ikechukwu Ukaegbu in Imo State, INEC upheld Athan Nneji Achonu of the Abure faction.
In Kogi, factional primaries held at the Big Brother Hotel and KAFAS Multipurpose Hall separately where Col. Dr. Vincent Enemona Abu and Barrister Okeme Adejoh emerged from the Apapa and Abure factions respectively.
However, INEC published the name of Barrister Adejoh who emerged from the Abure faction as LP’s Guber Candidate.
Bayelsa State wasn’t any different as Chief Diekivie Ikiogha and the former IYC president, Udengs Eradiri held on to separate claims of been the Party flagbearer in the State.
Udengs Eradiri, who emerged from the Abure faction got the election umpire’s nod as LP Candidate in the State.
With the publishing of particulars of candidates on Friday, INEC has taken a position, recognising only the Abure faction.