The Labour Party (LP) has issued a seven-day ultimatum to President Bola Tinubu, demanding he reprimand the All Progressives Congress (APC) spokesman, Felix Morka, for allegedly threatening its 2023 presidential candidate, Peter Obi.
This call follows a fiery exchange between the ruling party and the Obidient Movement, triggered by Morka’s remarks during a Sunday interview on Arise Television.
In the interview, Morka accused Obi of crossing the line with his criticism of Tinubu’s administration, claiming that the former Anambra governor was attempting to incite Nigerians against the government.
His statement, “Obi has crossed the line,” has since stirred controversy, raising concerns within the Labour Party about its implications for democracy and political dissent.
In an open letter addressed to the President on Tuesday, Marcel Ngogbehei, Director General of the Labour Party’s Directorate of Mobilisation and Integration, urged Tinubu to caution Morka, emphasizing the danger such rhetoric poses to Nigeria’s democratic principles.
Ngogbehei argued that Morka’s remarks extended beyond political rivalry, reflecting a potential threat to peace and unity.
“These statements, which target Peter Obi—a respected global figure and LP Presidential candidate in the last election—go beyond political rivalry and pose a direct threat to our democracy, peace, and unity,” Ngogbehei wrote.
He further reminded Tinubu of the opposition freedoms APC enjoyed during Goodluck Jonathan’s presidency, noting that such freedoms allowed the party to challenge the status quo and rise to power.
Ngogbehei warned that failing to act against Morka’s comments could signal complicity or indifference toward threats to political dissent.
“It is imperative for your administration to distance itself from any rhetoric or actions that threaten free speech, suppress opposition, or endanger the lives of political leaders,” he concluded.
The Labour Party stressed that a failure to address the issue within seven days could erode trust in the administration and its commitment to safeguarding democracy and free speech.
