The Julius Abure-led faction of the Labour Party (LP) has issued a strict ultimatum to Peter Obi, the party’s 2023 presidential candidate, demanding that he formally resign his membership within 48 hours. This directive follows Obi’s recent decision to join the opposition coalition platform under the African Democratic Congress (ADC), a move that has stirred controversy within the party.
Obi was officially unveiled on Wednesday as a key political figure aligning with the newly formed ADC-led coalition, which aims to challenge President Bola Tinubu in the 2027 general elections. However, the Labour Party’s National Publicity Secretary, Obiora Ifoh, condemned the coalition in a statement released on Thursday in Abuja, describing it as a gathering of “power mongers” and accusing Obi of harboring dual political loyalties.
“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,” Ifoh said.
The statement further clarified that the Labour Party is not part of the coalition and will not tolerate members with “dual agendas” or “deceptive personas.” Ifoh emphasized, “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.”
Okay.ng reports that Ifoh also dismissed the “new Nigeria” slogan often echoed by Obi and his supporters as misleading and unattainable under what he described as “recycled, desperate, and frustrated politicians.” He stressed that nearly 70 percent of Nigeria’s population are youths who are tired of the old political order and that the “new Nigeria” can only be realized through the Labour Party.
The party spokesman urged members to remain loyal, reiterating that the Abure-led leadership is committed to building a genuinely progressive and youth-driven political movement.
Obi’s coalition includes prominent political figures such as Atiku Abubakar, Nasir El-Rufai, Rauf Aregbesola, and others under the ADC banner. Political analysts have described this alliance as a significant third-force coalition ahead of the 2027 elections. The coalition’s leadership was formally unveiled on Wednesday, with former Senate President David Mark named interim chairman and Rauf Aregbesola as secretary.
