It seems that the only thing that all factions of Nigeria’s third largest party, the Labour Party, agrees on is the presidential candidacy of Peter Obi.
The LP’s National Working Committee, led by Julius Abure, says it is happy about Peter Obi’s plan to run for president again in 2027. Obi was the party’s presidential candidate in 2023 and has now confirmed he will contest again under the same party in the next election.
LP’s Publicity Secretary, Obiora Ifoh, confirmed this in an interview. He said the party is hopeful and ready to support Obi’s renewed ambition.
Obi made this declaration over the weekend in a viral video. In the video, he said, “I will still continue to run in the Labour Party. I’m a member of the Labour Party.”
Despite internal conflict and factional struggles in the party, Obi stated he remains committed to the Labour Party.
Ongoing Internal Leadership Tussle in Labour Party
The Labour Party is facing leadership issues. Peter Obi and Abia State Governor Alex Otti are believed to support Nenadi Usman in removing Julius Abure from leadership. The Supreme Court recently gave a judgment but did not clear up the confusion about who is truly in charge of the party.
Still, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) recognised the candidate presented by the Abure faction for the upcoming Anambra governorship election.
Obi’s declaration has raised fresh reactions. Obiora Ifoh said, “We are excited about the news. If we have waited all these while for two years with all the things that happened, we can still wait for tomorrow.”
He continued, “Politics is all about interest. Nigeria needs a government that can help Nigerians come out of crises. In 2023, we gave Peter Obi the ticket and he didn’t disappoint. Rather, the system disappointed them.”
Ifoh also confirmed that communication between Obi and Abure still exists, even though it is not formal. “There are talks, though not formal. Obi is from Anambra and we expect him to help the Labour Party win the state. At the right time, they will settle their differences.”
He added, “If he runs again under Labour Party, it is a good thing for us. It’s a win-win situation.”
Reactions from Coalition Members and Obi’s Strong Position
Obi’s declaration has also caused concern within a proposed opposition coalition led by former Vice President Atiku Abubakar. A top member of the group, Babachir Lawal, said, “I don’t know what is in his mind. You need to ask Obi himself when you see him.”
Obi also blamed the government for the crisis within parties. He said, “What is happening in the Labour Party and the PDP is caused by the government, quote me anywhere.”
He explained that during late President Yar’Adua’s tenure, party problems were handled better. “I went to him then; he called the INEC chairman and said he didn’t want problems in any party.”
Obi promised to fix such problems if elected. He said political parties need to be strong to ensure democracy works well. He also encouraged Nigerians to take voting seriously, saying they hold the final power. “Even if agents are paid, the people must ensure their votes count,” he said.
Obi also urged Nigerian youths not to give up. “Positive change will be resisted by people benefiting from the current system,” he warned.
He also said there should be a retirement age for politicians. By 2027, Obi will be 65 and said he does not want to run for office in his 70s.
Coalition Still in Talks Amid Speculations of Political Realignments
The opposition coalition that includes Atiku, Obi, Nasir El-Rufai, Rotimi Amaechi, and Babachir Lawal recently met in Abuja. They met under the National Political Consultative Group to plan for 2027.
Although the meeting was held, no final decision was reached on who will lead the ticket. The group has abandoned plans to use the Social Democratic Party. They may now run under the African Democratic Congress (ADC) platform.
There are rumours that Kebbi State Governor, Nasir Idris, might join the coalition. He was elected under the APC and is serving a second term. His move may suggest there is tension in the state’s APC chapter.
No official confirmation has come yet about his possible switch as of the time this report was filed.
Rate, Like 👍, Comment, share this article and Follow us on our social media handles.
WhatsApp Channel
Telegram Channel
