The Labour Party (LP), under the leadership of Julius Abure, has issued a 48-hour ultimatum to its 2023 presidential flagbearer, Mr Peter Obi, demanding that he formally resign his membership following his recent political alignment with an opposition coalition under the African Democratic Congress (ADC).
Obi was unveiled on Wednesday as one of the prominent figures in a newly launched coalition platform spearheaded by the ADC, designed to challenge the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) and President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in the 2027 general elections.
Reacting to the development, Labour Party’s National Publicity Secretary, Mr Obiora Ifoh, in a statement released on Thursday in Abuja, described the new coalition as a gathering of “power mongers” and accused Peter Obi of harbouring 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 alleged.
He reiterated that the Labour Party is not part of the ADC-led third-force initiative and will not tolerate members who operate with “dual agendas” or project what he labelled as “deceptive personas.”
New Nigeria Vision in Question
Ifoh criticised the “New Nigeria” vision often promoted by Obi and his supporters, calling it unrealistic under what he described as “recycled, desperate, and frustrated politicians.”
“Nearly 70 percent of
the Nigerian population are youths who are tired of the old order. The new Nigeria of our dream can only be realised through the Labour Party,” he stated.
Coalition Gathers Momentum Ahead of 2027
The newly announced opposition alliance is already generating significant political ripples. Alongside Peter Obi, key political figures such as former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, ex-Kaduna Governor Nasir El-Rufai, and former Osun State Governor Rauf Aregbesola were also revealed as coalition members. The unveiling, held in Abuja, named former Senate President David Mark as interim chairman and Rauf Aregbesola as interim secretary.
Analysts believe this third-force coalition could shift the political landscape ahead of 2027, particularly if it consolidates support across regional and partisan divides. However, internal party disputes such as the current LP fallout may threaten its cohesiveness.
LP Urges Members to Remain Loyal
Despite the high-profile defection, the Labour Party leadership has urged its members and supporters to remain loyal and committed to its original progressive agenda. Ifoh reaffirmed that the Abure-led faction remains the legitimate and recognised leadership of the party, focused on delivering a youth-driven, transparent, and people-centred movement.
“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,” the statement concluded.
As political realignments continue to unfold ahead of the 2027 elections, the fate of Peter Obi within the Labour Party and the strength of the emerging coalition will remain key points of national political discourse.
