A faction of the Labour Party (LP) led by Julius Abure has issued a 48-hour ultimatum to its 2023 presidential candidate, Peter Obi, demanding his resignation from the party. This stern warning comes in the wake of Obi’s alignment with a newly formed opposition coalition ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Earlier reports indicated that Peter Obi was among prominent political figures who convened on Wednesday to adopt the African Democratic Congress (ADC) as the chosen platform for a coalition aiming to unseat President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in 2027.
In a statement released on Thursday in Abuja, Obiora Ifoh, the National Publicity Secretary for the Abure-led faction, asserted that Obi’s support for this coalition directly contradicts the faction’s stance. The Abure-led group has distanced itself from the alliance, labeling its members as “power mongers” and “frustrated politicians.”
“Labour Party has consistently said it is not part of the coalition,” the statement read. “Therefore, any of our members who is part of the coalition is given within 48 hours to formally resign his membership of the party.”
Ifoh did not mince words in his critique of the coalition, cautioning Nigerians that the popular slogan of a “new Nigeria” being touted by the group was merely a facade, given the backgrounds of those involved. He alleged that Obi has been holding “nocturnal meetings” with some LP members, lobbying them to defect to his new political venture, though he noted that many have refused.
The LP chieftain further claimed that the coalition comprises individuals responsible for Nigeria’s past governance issues, accusing them of using this new platform to “relaunch themselves into the circle of power.” He emphasized that the “new Nigeria” envisioned by the youth, who constitute nearly 70 percent of the population and are “tired of the old order,” cannot be realized through the current coalition’s composition.
The Labour Party faction stressed that it would no longer tolerate divided loyalties, asserting that members cannot simultaneously belong to two political platforms. “Labour Party is not available for people with dual agenda, people with deceptive persona,” Ifoh stated, criticizing those who “in the morning they claim to be in the Labour Party, and in the evening they are in coalition.” He urged all party faithful to remain loyal to the existing party structure and prepare for future elections under the Labour Party’s banner.
Meanwhile, Peter Obi has reaffirmed his commitment to the opposition coalition, describing it as a vital platform necessary to “rescue Nigeria in 2027.” In a post shared on his official đť•Ź handle, the former Anambra State Governor stated, “No one group can change Nigeria alone. To dismantle the structures that keep our people in poverty and insecurity, we must build bridges, not walls—even when those bridges are uneasy.”
Obi confirmed that the coalition has formally adopted the African Democratic Congress (ADC) as its platform for the 2027 elections, with Senator David Mark designated as National Chairman and Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola as Secretary. He concluded by reiterating the coalition’s commitment to “sacrifice and work together… ensuring Nigeria gets a competent, capable, and compassionate leadership that will prioritise the nation’s future by putting the welfare of Nigerians first.”
