The Labour Party (LP), chaired by Julius Abure, has given its presidential candidate for the 2023 general elections, Peter Obi, a 48-hour ultimatum to leave the party after he aligned himself with a newly formed opposition coalition in front of the 2027 general elections.
As previously reported, Obi was one of the leading political personalities that convened on Wednesday to decide to form the African Democratic Congress (ADC) as the coalition party to overthrow President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in 2027.
However, Obiora Ifoh, the National Publicity Secretary for the Abure-led faction, cautioned in a statement signed and released in Abuja on Thursday that Obi’s backing of the coalition is in direct opposition to the faction’s stance, which has distanced itself from the alliance and called its members “frustrated politicians” and “power mongers.”
The statement noted that the Labour Party has repeatedly said that it is not a member of the coalition.
“Therefore, any of our members who are a part of the coalition have 48 hours to formally disband their party membership.”
Ifoh Ifoh was unreserved in his criticism of the alliance, cautioning Nigerians that the frequently used phrase of a “new Nigeria” was really a charade given the individuals behind it. “Desperate Politicians Can’t Birth a New Nigeria”
Peter Obi allegedly met with several of his members at night on multiple occasions to try to persuade them to join his new party.
“We know that some of them have declined to defect with him as well.”
The leader of LP claimed that the coalition is made up of those who had previously misled Nigeria and charged them with exploiting the position to “relaunch themselves into the circle of power.”
Almost 70% of Nigerians are young people who are fed up with the status quo, he said.
“The coalition we are witnessing does not have the potential to realize the new Nigeria that the youths envision.”
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“A single leg in, one leg out.” Politics No Longer Will Be Accepted
Members of the Labour Party cannot be members of two political platforms at the same time, and the party issued a warning that it will no longer accept dual loyalties.
“Those who have two agendas or a dishonest face are not welcome in the Labour Party,” Ifoh said.
“They say they are part of the Labour Party in the morning, but they are in coalition in the evening.”
Under the Labour Party’s banner, he urged all party members to stick to the system and get ready for upcoming elections.
Peter Obi, in the meantime, has reiterated his dedication to the opposition party coalition, calling it a vital bridge to save Nigeria in 2027.
The former governor of Anambra State said on his official 𝕏 account: “No one group can change Nigeria alone.” Bridges, not walls, must be built in order to demolish the systems that keep our people in poverty and insecurity, even if those bridges are uncomfortable.
He disclosed that Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola is the secretary and Senator David Mark is the national chairman of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), which the alliance has officially accepted as its platform for the 2027 elections.
“Our commitment is to sacrifice and work together… ensuring Nigeria gets a competent, capable, and compassionate leadership that will prioritize the nation’s future by putting the welfare of Nigerians first,” Obi said and added.
