Nigerian NewsPolitics

If not for God, I’d have died in court – Lamidi Apapa

Lamidi Apapa, the Labour Party (LP) Factional National Chairman, has said that God saved him from a mob at the Court of Appeal in Abuja.

His faction stormed the court on Wednesday for the pre-hearing of the Presidential Election Petition Tribunal of Peter Obi, challenging the 2023 presidential election.

Apapa, who addressed newsmen after he was booed and chased out of the court premises, thanked God for saving his life.

Moments after his release from protective custody by security operatives, the LP chieftain said he had before the court began its proceedings, sensed trouble, after the Director-General of Obi campaign organizations, Akin Osuntokun, refused to vacate a chair that was reserved for chairman of the party.

Apapa said; “I went to him and inquired to know on what capacity he was sitting on the seat. I told him that since I am in court today, I am the right person to sit on that chair.”

Speaking on being mobbed, Apapa, said: “They pounced on me, removed my cap and I am very sure that if not that you people (journalists) were there, I would have been dead by now.”

He dismissed claims that he collected N500million to scuttle Obi’s petition against the President-elect, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu.

Apapa also accused the LP flagbearer of being aware that he would be attacked, disclosing that members of the presidential campaign group of the party had at a meeting that was held on Tuesday to broker peace among the warring factions, vowed to deal with him should he attend the court session.

He said; “They threatened that if I appear in court that something would happen.

“I want to tell the whole world that he is a liar. I have been in the party for over 21 years while he is not even up to one year in the party.

“I have never taken any kobo from anybody and I have challenged anyone that has any evidence to bring it forward.

“Apart from money, what else does he (Obi) have that I don’t have?”.