The crisis in the Labour Party and its 2023 presidential candidate, Peter Obi, has escalated amid fresh accusations and counter-accusations over the party’s direction ahead of the 2027 general election.
The party leadership, through its National Secretary, Umar Farouk, on Tuesday, accused Obi of waging a sustained campaign of media blackmail against the National Chairman, Julius Abure, and other top officials.
The latest fallout follows Obi’s appearance on Arise Television, where he alleged that the All Progressives Congress had infiltrated the Labour Party to destabilise its leadership.
The party dismissed the claims as unfounded, challenging Obi to provide evidence and accusing him of shirking responsibility for internal party crises.
It urged Obi to desist from what it described as a sustained campaign of media blackmail against the party’s leadership.
“Our attention was called to an interview granted by Obi wherein he alleged that the APC-led Federal Government has infiltrated the leadership of the Labour Party and is fomenting crisis in the party.
“But when asked to produce evidence, Obi had nothing tangible to offer.”
“Unfortunately, Mr Obi continues to misinform Nigerians on the root of the internal crisis within the Labour Party, even though he knows that most political parties face one form of crisis or another,” he said.
Farouk placed the blame for the party’s internal strife squarely on Obi and Abia State Governor, Dr Alex Otti, who he said remained suspended from the party for anti-party activities.
He insisted that the ruling APC had no hand in LP’s troubles, challenging Obi to present any proof to the contrary.
“Nobody is infallible. When good leaders fail, they should take responsibility. Obi failed in providing leadership for the party and should own up to that failure instead of shifting blame,” Farouk said.
He noted that despite their recent criticisms, Obi’s recognition of Abure as national chairman during his interview was a subtle acknowledgement of legitimate leadership.
“As far as we are concerned, the issue is settled. Julius Abure remains the national chairman of the Labour Party. That fact is not in dispute.
“We urge Peter Obi and other aggrieved members to come to terms with this and work toward the unity of the party,” he concluded.
Meanwhile, Obi has continued his push for political reform, urging Nigerians to elect compassionate, credible leaders in 2027.
Speaking at the public presentation of “Obi: The Political Change Agent,” written by journalist Ike Abonyi in Abuja, the former Anambra State governor said 2027 must mark a turning point for Nigeria.
Obi likened Nigeria’s current state to a sinking Titanic and described the next election cycle as a chance to save it from collapse.
“Now we must focus on getting the right people into the National Assembly, the House of Representatives—people who will bring peace. That’s what we didn’t do last time.
“We must not allow people who just want to make money from politics. If your goal is to make money, you’re part of the problem,” Obi said.
He bemoaned the existence of a “self-serving class of leaders who are indifferent to the suffering of everyday Nigerians.”
Obi sought active involvement of Nigerians in the forthcoming general election, as he vowed that the Labour Party and its supporters were ready to mobilise and ensure every vote counted.
“Don’t tell us you’re coming again. We will be everywhere this time. We will vote. The votes will count. And those who were not counted before—we will count them now,” he warned incumbent lawmakers and politicians with questionable records.
Furthermore, the former governor likened the present state of Nigeria to being at war, going by incidences of killings across the nation.
He said, “Today in Nigeria, we’re not officially at war, yet Nigerians are living in IDP camps in their own country. Nigerians are refugees in Chad. Nigerians are refugees in Cameroon. And we are not at war?”
He said the only reason for the present state of the country was because no government cared for the people.
