A fresh political storm is brewing within the Labour Party (LP) as two rival factions lock horns over Peter Obi’s recent involvement in a grand opposition coalition led by former Senate President David Mark.
On one side, Senator Nenadi Usman, the party’s Acting National Chairman, has thrown her weight behind the 2023 presidential candidate’s alliance with the coalition, describing it as a bold step toward rescuing Nigeria from what she calls “the disastrous misrule of the APC.”
On the other hand, Julius Abure’s camp has issued a 48-hour ultimatum to Obi, demanding he publicly distances himself from the coalition or resign from the party.
In a fiery statement issued Thursday through her aide Ken Asogwa, Usman tore into the Abure-led group, branding them “political jesters with no legitimate standing in Labour Party,” insisting that they had been sacked by the Supreme Court and suspended from the party over “serial acts of indiscipline and anti-party activities.”
“We reaffirm that Mr. Peter Obi’s participation in the coalition, including the ADC unveiling, was done with the full knowledge, approval, and support of the Labour Party leadership,” Usman declared.
According to her, the Labour Party on May 26, 2025, officially endorsed Obi’s participation in opposition talks aimed at forging a “robust political alternative” ahead of the 2027 elections.
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But in a counteroffensive, Abure’s loyalists maintain that Obi acted unilaterally, warning that aligning with other political heavyweights like Atiku Abubakar, Nasir El-Rufai, Rotimi Amaechi, and Dino Melaye without party consensus amounts to betrayal.
The coalition—officially unveiled Wednesday in Abuja—selected David Mark as interim National Chair and former Osun governor Rauf Aregbesola as Secretary. The ADC has been chosen as the tentative platform for 2027, heightening speculation of a mega opposition merger.
Who Really Speaks for LP?
The legitimacy of both factions remains in question. While Abure insists he remains LP’s National Chairman, Usman says his reign ended with a Supreme Court judgment and internal disciplinary actions.
Observers say the deepening cracks within LP could either strengthen Obi’s hand as a coalition builder or isolate him politically if not handled with caution.
As the political tug-of-war intensifies, Nigerians are watching closely to see which Labour Party will ultimately carry the flag — and whose voice will speak the loudest in 2027.