The Labour Party (LP) is grappling with intensified internal strife as rival factions clash over the interpretation of the Supreme Court’s April 4 ruling and the party’s alignment with former presidential candidate Peter Obi.
Amid the turmoil, Ohanaeze Ndigbo has appealed to Obi to forgo his 2027 presidential ambition in the interest of equity, national unity, and peace, urging him instead to support President Bola Tinubu’s second-term bid. Speaking in Abakaliki, Deputy National President of a faction of Ohanaeze, Okechukwu Isiguzoro, warned that defeating an incumbent president would be a formidable challenge.
He further argued that without nationwide support, particularly outside the South-East, Obi’s chances were slim. Isiguzoro cited opposition disunity and Atiku Abubakar’s continued presidential ambition at age 81 as major stumbling blocks. According to him, Obi and Atiku risk splitting the opposition vote, which would clear the path for Tinubu’s re-election—a scenario he warned could again marginalize the South-East.
“Ohanaeze Ndigbo acknowledges Obi’s constitutional right to run,” Isiguzoro said. “But we must face the reality: betrayal is likely, and the South-East could again bear the consequences, just as we did in the 2019 and 2023 elections.”
He recalled that Obi’s 2019 vice-presidential run with Atiku Abubakar led to the region missing out on a promised sixth state from then-President Muhammadu Buhari—a pledge that hinged on Igbo support.
Meanwhile, a faction loyal to Senator Nenadi Usman has rejected claims of any plan to expel Obi, dismissing them as false and malicious. In a statement, Usman’s Senior Special Adviser on Media, Ken Eluma Asogwa, condemned what he described as the antics of “political jesters” attempting to undermine Obi’s coalition-building efforts.
“Their claims are desperate, illegal, and baseless,” Asogwa said, stressing that only communications from the Acting National Chairman’s office should be considered official. He also reiterated that Obi’s alliance efforts have full backing from the party’s leadership, referencing a May 25 endorsement.
However, the Julius Abure-led faction countered, accusing Usman of misrepresenting the Supreme Court judgment. National Publicity Secretary Obiora Ifoh clarified that the court merely ruled that it lacked jurisdiction over internal party disputes—it did not validate any particular leadership.
Ifoh stated, “Usman’s claim to party leadership is unfounded. The party has moved beyond court distractions and is focused on the 2027 elections. Serious aspirants are already engaging with us. Let the wailers keep wailing—we’re moving forward.”
Appearing on Channels Television’s The Morning Brief, LP’s 2023 vice-presidential candidate Dr. Yusuf Datti Baba-Ahmed affirmed that Julius Abure remains the national chairman. He explained that when INEC raised questions about Abure’s tenure, appropriate responses were made in Umuahia, and the Supreme Court ruling was initially interpreted in favor of the Usman group. Nevertheless, INEC continued to recognize the Abure-led faction, prompting the party to comply with legal processes.
Datti accused unnamed powerful forces of manipulating LP members but expressed optimism that such interference would soon end.
On Monday, Datti attended the National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting of the Abure faction in Abuja, where he formally declared interest in contesting the 2027 presidential election. He added that Obi is welcome to return as the party’s presidential candidate—with or without him as a running mate.
“There are two individuals I deeply respect—Peter Obi is one of them. He’s free to contest the LP ticket for 2027. The party welcomes him, whether or not I run alongside him. The ADC is also welcome to support a southern candidate,” Datti concluded.
