The Julius Abure-led Labour Party (LP) leadership has given Peter Obi, the party’s 2023 presidential candidate, just 48 hours to step down from the party following his involvement in a new political coalition spearheaded by the African Democratic Congress (ADC).
Obi was officially introduced on Wednesday as one of the leading figures in a new opposition coalition aiming to unseat President Bola Tinubu in the upcoming 2027 general election.
This new alliance, according to party insiders, brings together prominent politicians such as Atiku Abubakar, Nasir El-Rufai, Rauf Aregbesola, and others. The coalition hopes to serve as a strong third-force alternative in the next election cycle.
Reacting swiftly on Thursday in Abuja, Labour Party’s National Publicity Secretary, Obiora Ifoh, openly criticized the coalition. He said the group was filled with individuals mainly interested in gaining political power and claimed that Obi was playing double roles in politics.
He said, “We are aware of several nocturnal meetings between Peter Obi and some of our members, lobbying them to join him in his new party. We’re also aware that a number of them have refused to defect with him.
“Labour Party has consistently said it is not part of the coalition and therefore, any of our members who is part of the coalition is given within 48 hours to formally resign his membership of the party.
“Labour Party is not available for people with dual agenda, people with deceptive persona. The party will not avail itself to individuals who have one leg in one party and another leg elsewhere.
“People that in the morning, they will claim to be in the Labour Party and in the evening they are in coalition.
“Nearly 70 percent of Nigeria’s population are youths who are tired of the old order, tired of gerontocrats deciding their fate. The new Nigeria that the youths are dreaming of is not what can be realized from what we are seeing in the coalition.
“These people are opportunistic politicians who are only interested in relaunching themselves into the circle of power, people who are desperate to continue holding on to power.
“The new Nigeria of our dream can only be realized through Labour Party, and the party is willing to lead Nigerians along that trajectory.
“I therefore urge all members of the party to remain loyal and keep the party structure intact ahead of future elections.”
