package apport 2.20.7-0ubuntu3 failed to install/upgrade: package is in a very bad inconsistent state; you should reinstall it before attempting configuration

[Granjow]

This problem appeared on a fresh installation of 17.10; it seems it was never installed correctly for unknown reasons.

ProblemType: Package
DistroRelease: Ubuntu 17.10
Package: apport 2.20.7-0ubuntu3
ProcVersionSignature: Ubuntu 4.13.0-16.19-generic 4.13.4
Uname: Linux 4.13.0-16-generic x86_64
NonfreeKernelModules: wl
ApportVersion: 2.20.7-0ubuntu3
AptOrdering:
 python2.7-minimal:amd64: Install
 python2.7:amd64: Install
 NULL: ConfigurePending
Architecture: amd64
CrashReports:
 600:0:119:247101:2017-11-21 08:41:55.010977268 +0100:2017-11-21 08:41:56.010977268 +0100:/var/crash/apport.0.crash
 640:1000:119:89203:2017-11-15 16:27:14.062613137 +0100:2017-11-21 08:29:34.949367739 +0100:/var/crash/_usr_bin_update-manager.1000.crash
 664:1000:119:0:2017-11-15 16:27:07.054817297 +0100:2017-11-15 16:27:07.054817297 +0100:/var/crash/_usr_bin_update-manager.1000.upload
 600:112:119:0:2017-11-15 16:27:08.634774669 +0100:2017-11-15 16:27:08.634774669 +0100:/var/crash/_usr_bin_update-manager.1000.uploaded
Date: Tue Nov 21 08:41:55 2017
DuplicateSignature:
 package:apport:2.20.7-0ubuntu3
 Processing triggers for desktop-file-utils (0.23-1ubuntu3) ...
 dpkg: error processing package apport (--configure):
  package is in a very bad inconsistent state; you should
ErrorMessage: package is in a very bad inconsistent state; you should reinstall it before attempting configuration
InstallationDate: Installed on 2017-11-15 (5 days ago)
InstallationMedia: Ubuntu 17.10 "Artful Aardvark" - Release amd64 (20171018)
PackageArchitecture: all
Python3Details: /usr/bin/python3.6, Python 3.6.3, python3-minimal, 3.6.3-0ubuntu2
PythonDetails: /root/Error: command ['which', 'python'] failed with exit code 1:, Error: [Errno 2] No such file or directory: "/root/Error: command ['which', 'python'] failed with exit code 1:": "/root/Error: command ['which', 'python'] failed with exit code 1:", unpackaged
RelatedPackageVersions:
 dpkg 1.18.24ubuntu1
 apt 1.5
SourcePackage: apport
Title: package apport 2.20.7-0ubuntu3 failed to install/upgrade: package is in a very bad inconsistent state; you should reinstall it before attempting configuration
UpgradeStatus: No upgrade log present (probably fresh install)