Oseloka Obaze, a longtime ally of Peter Obi and a key figure in the Labour Party, has officially resigned from the party, citing deep concerns over how the recent Anambra governorship primary was conducted.
In a letter addressed to the Labour Party chairman in Ochuche Ward 406, Ogbaru Local Government Area, and dated Sunday, May 4, Obaze said his decision to leave was not made lightly but was necessary to express his disapproval of what he called a “fraudulent” process.
“By virtue of this letter, I hereby tender my resignation from the Labour Party (LP),” he wrote.
Obaze, a former UN diplomat and one-time Secretary to the Anambra State Government under Peter Obi, didn’t hold back in his assessment of the April 5 primary held in Awka.
“The processes, conduct and outcome of the Labour Party governorship primaries held on April 5, 2025, in Awka, were fraught with outright irregularities, bordering on fraud and criminality.
“It was not in tandem with either the party’s Constitution and espoused core values or true tenets of democracy. As such, I hereby disassociate myself henceforth from the Labour Party,” he stated.
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Speaking to the News Agency of Nigeria, Obaze confirmed the letter’s authenticity and said, “The letter was real and speaks for itself.”
He also took aim at the party’s national leadership crisis, noting the unresolved rift between factions loyal to Julius Abure and Senator Nenadi Usman.
According to him, the refusal of the party’s leaders to reconcile both sides further reinforced his decision to step away.
Though he didn’t reveal his next political move, Obaze’s exit marks a significant shift. In 2022, he had left the Peoples Democratic Party just a week before Obi’s own defection to Labour Party.
He then went on to play a central role in Obi’s presidential campaign and was regarded as one of the intellectual anchors of the Obedient Movement.