Labour Party Leadership Reaffirms Support For Peter Obi Amid Factional Dispute.
The Labour Party (LP), under the leadership of Senator Nenadi Usman, has firmly dismissed a 48-hour ultimatum issued by the Julius Abure-led faction demanding the resignation of the party’s 2023 presidential candidate, Peter Obi. The ultimatum, described as “mischievous” and “politically motivated,” stems from Obi’s participation in a new opposition coalition led by former Senate President David Mark, which was unveiled in Abuja on Wednesday.
In a statement released on Thursday, Senator Usman, the Acting National Chairman of the LP’s National Caretaker Committee (NCC), condemned the Abure faction’s actions, labelling them “political jesters with no legitimate standing” within the party. The statement, signed by Ken Eluma Asogwa, Usman’s Senior Special Adviser on Media, clarified that the LP leadership had, as early as 26 May 2025, publicly endorsed Obi’s involvement in coalition talks aimed at creating a robust political alternative to challenge the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in the 2027 elections. “The Labour Party remains steadfast in its support for Mr Obi’s efforts to rescue Nigeria from the disastrous misrule of the APC,” the statement read.
The Abure-led faction, which claims to be the authentic leadership of the LP, issued the ultimatum following Obi’s attendance at the coalition meeting, where the African Democratic Congress (ADC) was announced as the platform for the 2027 elections. The faction argued that Obi’s participation constituted a breach of party loyalty, accusing the coalition of being a “conglomeration of power mongers” with self-serving interests. They demanded Obi resign his LP membership within 48 hours, warning that the coalition’s recycled politicians could not deliver the “new Nigeria” promised by Obi.
Dismissing these claims, the Usman-led NCC cited a Supreme Court ruling on 4 April 2025, which nullified Abure’s leadership and affirmed his suspension for “serial acts of indiscipline and anti-party conduct.” The statement described Abure and his supporters as “impostors” whose actions continue to sow discord within the party. “The remnants of the disorder left behind by these discredited elements are what the current leadership under Senator Nenadi Usman is working to resolve,” Asogwa noted, urging the public and media to disregard statements from the Abure faction.
The LP’s internal crisis has deepened in recent months, with competing claims to leadership from Usman, Abure, and Callistus Okafor, each asserting legitimacy. The Usman-led committee, backed by prominent figures such as Abia State Governor Alex Otti and Senator Ireti Kingibe, has accused Abure of undermining the party’s democratic values. In May, Usman’s faction suspended Abure, citing allegations of corruption, forgery, and impersonation, which are reportedly under investigation by the police.
The coalition, which includes high-profile figures like former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, former Kaduna Governor Nasir El-Rufai, and former Rivers Governor Rotimi Amaechi, is seen as a strategic move to unite opposition forces. Usman’s leadership has reaffirmed Obi’s right to contest the 2027 presidential election under the LP banner should the coalition efforts falter, underscoring the party’s commitment to a united front against the APC.
As the LP navigates this turbulent period, Usman has called for unity among party members, describing the Supreme Court’s ruling as a “significant milestone” for Nigeria’s democracy. “This is not a time for triumphalism—there is no victor or vanquished,” she said, urging supporters to remain committed to the party’s mission of fostering justice, equity, and people-centred governance.
