The Labour Party has moved to quell growing speculation over internal defections, as its Deputy National Chairman, Chief Clement A. Ojukwu, on Wednesday firmly denied reports claiming he had defected to the African Democratic Congress (ADC).
In a statement released via the official Labour Party X (formerly Twitter) page on December 31, 2025, Ojukwu described the reports as false and misleading, insisting that he remains a loyal and committed member of the Labour Party, which he said he helped to build.
“A fake news going round has it that I, Chief Clement Ojukwu, Gbazuoagu Nnewi, the Deputy National Chairman of the Labour Party, have defected to the ADC. There is no truth in that,” the statement read.
Ojukwu, a senior figure within the party’s national leadership, stressed that he has no intention of abandoning the Labour Party, noting that he invested significant personal resources and political energy into its growth.
“I will not and do not intend to abandon a house I committed my resources and energy to help build. I have no reason to abandon the house I helped to build to an unknown destination,” he said.
His clarification comes amid heightened political realignments within the opposition space, following the reported defection of several political actors — including the Labour Party’s 2023 presidential candidate, Peter Obi — to the ADC. While acknowledging these developments, Ojukwu maintained that the Labour Party remains intact and resilient.
“It is true that some of my political associates… have chosen to defect to the ADC,” he said, “but I can guarantee you that millions of our party supporters are still intact and have pledged allegiance to the present leadership of the party led by Barrister Julius Abure, for whom I am deputising.”
Ojukwu expressed confidence that the party would weather the current turbulence, describing the situation as an “unfortunate development” rather than a terminal setback. He reaffirmed the Labour Party’s ideological commitment to social democracy, which he said remains relevant to Nigeria’s present political and socio-economic challenges.
“We have elected to continue to preach social democratic ideology, which we believe the nation needs at this point in time,” the statement said.
Looking ahead to the next electoral cycle, Ojukwu struck an optimistic tone, predicting a political rebound for the party in 2027. Drawing parallels with the party’s strong showing in the 2023 general elections, he suggested that Labour remains capable of surprising its critics.
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“We are confident that 2027, for us in the Labour Party, will be a year of pleasant surprises. We did it in 2023 and we can do it again,” he said.
He concluded by urging party faithful nationwide to remain calm and steadfast, assuring them that the current uncertainty would give way to renewed momentum.
“I therefore call on all our loyal party members to remain calm and hopeful. There will certainly be a light at the end of the tunnel,” Ojukwu stated, ending with the party’s familiar rallying cry: “Forward ever, backward never.”