The internal crisis rocking the Labour Party (LP) has deepened as loyalists of the embattled National Chairman, Julius Abure, and supporters of Abia State Governor, Alex Otti, clashed once again, this time over reports that former presidential candidate Peter Obi may contest the 2027 election under an African Democratic Congress (ADC) coalition.
The renewed confrontation highlights widening divisions within the opposition party as members debate whether to form alliances to challenge President Bola Tinubu in the next general election.
Speaking exclusively to The PUNCH, factional National Publicity Secretary Prince Tony Akeni, who is aligned with Obi and Otti, expressed confidence that Tinubu’s administration could be defeated.
According to him, the president’s focus on political maneuvering rather than governance would be his “major undoing” ahead of 2027.
“We sympathise with Tinubu because, with this wave of defections, he’s carrying a nest of soldier ants,” Akeni said.
Akeni also urged former Vice President Atiku Abubakar to drop his presidential ambition and instead back Obi, describing unity among the opposition as the only way to rescue Nigeria from “the agony of misrule.”
“If Atiku truly loves this country, he should support Obi for the presidency. He can even nominate anyone of his choice, even his lastborn, as vice president,” he added.
He further described Obi as a disciplined reformist capable of replicating Singapore’s transformation under Lee Kuan Yew.
However, the Abure-led faction dismissed any talk of a merger or coalition with the ADC.
Factional spokesperson Obiora Ifoh maintained that the LP remains strong and independent.
“The Labour Party has not held discussions with anybody. We are standing on our own and believe any candidate we field can win in 2027,” Ifoh said, adding that there will be no automatic ticket for any aspirant.
On the recent wave of defections to the All Progressives Congress (APC), Ifoh accused politicians of acting out of self-preservation, greed, and fear, insisting that Nigerians—not defectors will ultimately decide the 2027 elections.
“Some are defecting to secure reelection or avoid prosecution. But Nigerians will determine who becomes president, governor, or senator, not these individuals,” he said.
He warned that the increasing concentration of political power within the APC could threaten Nigeria’s democracy, describing it as a “gravitational pull that fuels impunity.”
As the 2027 race gathers momentum, the Labour Party’s escalating internal rift raises questions about whether the once-vibrant Obidient Movement can remain united—or become another casualty of Nigeria’s fractious political landscape.
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