The crisis within the Labour Party (LP) deepened on Thursday as the Julius Abure-led faction issued a 48-hour ultimatum to former presidential candidate Peter Obi to formally resign from the party following his recent involvement in an opposition coalition aimed at unseating President Bola Tinubu in 2027.
The ultimatum was delivered in a strongly worded statement signed by the faction’s National Publicity Secretary, Obiora Ifoh, in Abuja.
The Abure-led group denounced Obi’s alliance with the new coalition, describing it as a convergence of “recycled, desperate and frustrated politicians” with no genuine interest in building a new Nigeria.
“The Labour Party under Julius Abure has made it clear from the outset that we are not part of this so-called coalition,” the statement read. “Any of our members found to be associating with it has 48 hours to resign from the party.”
Obi had earlier this week publicly declared support for the coalition, which has adopted the African Democratic Congress (ADC) as its platform for the 2027 elections.
He also announced that former Senate President David Mark would serve as National Chairman of the coalition, while former Osun State Governor Rauf Aregbesola was appointed National Secretary.
In his post on X (formerly Twitter), Obi said, “Our commitment is to sacrifice and work together towards the 2027 General Elections, ensuring that Nigeria gets a competent, capable, and compassionate leadership… This decision was not made lightly. It comes from deep reflection on where we are as a country and what must be done to move forward.”
But the Labour Party faction under Abure is not buying it. According to Ifoh, the coalition is filled with individuals responsible for Nigeria’s current woes. He accused Obi of attempting to lure LP members into what he called a “dual agenda.”
“We are aware of several nocturnal meetings between Peter Obi and some of our members, lobbying them to join him in his new party,” Ifoh alleged. “The Labour Party is not a platform for opportunistic politicians or people who keep one leg in the party and the other in a coalition.”
The statement further accused members of the coalition of being part of the “old order” that Nigerian youths are fighting against, warning that a “new Nigeria” cannot be achieved with those who once mismanaged the country.
Ifoh added, “The party urges its members to remain loyal and keep the structure intact. The new Nigeria of our dreams can only be realized through the Labour Party.”
The ultimatum raises questions about Obi’s continued relationship with the party under whose banner he contested the 2023 presidential election and gained a substantial youth following.
Observers say the growing division could have implications for the emerging opposition alliance and the broader goal of mounting a formidable challenge against the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in 2027.
