A faction of the Labour Party loyal to Senator Nenadi Usman and backed by Abia State Governor, Alex Otti, on Monday threw its weight behind Peter Obi’s involvement in the emerging opposition coalition.
The faction, which claims to be the legitimate Labour Party Caretaker Committee, said there was nothing unusual or improper about forming alliances aimed at unseating President Bola Tinubu in 2027.
Speaking through her Senior Special Adviser on Media, Ken Asogwa, in a statement on Monday, Usman criticised the statement issued by the Julius Abure-led National Working Committee, which had described Obi’s participation in the coalition as an affront to the party’s leadership.
Earlier in a statement on Monday, Labour Party’s National Publicity Secretary, Obiora Ifoh, insisted that the party would not support any coalition involving former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and ex-Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai.
He also stressed that no aspirant — including Obi and Otti — would be granted an automatic ticket for the 2027 presidential election.
“While we are not opposed to anyone seeking to run on the Labour Party platform in 2027, we must clarify that the party has always maintained a transparent process for selecting candidates. Automatic tickets are not part of our practice,” Ifoh stated.
He further criticised Obi’s appearance at the pro-coalition meeting in Abuja on Sunday, describing it as unauthorised and confusing.
We find it troubling that Peter Obi, after hinting at his 2027 ambition under the Labour Party, attended a coalition meeting without the knowledge or consent of the party leadership.
“His actions amount to disregard for the party’s autonomy and leadership,” Ifoh said.
However, Usman dismissed Ifoh’s remarks, asserting that Obi’s participation in coalition talks was fully sanctioned by the party’s caretaker leadership and aligned with national interests.
We formally approved Obi’s involvement in the ongoing patriotic efforts to rescue Nigeria from the current administration.
“It is curious that individuals who were suspended for anti-party activities are now questioning a move rooted in national interest,” she said.
She accused Abure and his camp of undermining the party and questioned their motives.
“Whose interest is Julius Abure really serving? Is he denying that Nigeria is in crisis and that unified action is needed? His actions suggest an agenda contrary to what the Labour Party and Obi stand for,” she added.
Usman reiterated that Peter Obi reserves the right to seek the party’s ticket for 2027, should the coalition fail to produce a consensus candidate.
She also dismissed the Abure-led faction’s reference to a 2024 national convention, calling it illegal and already nullified by the Supreme Court.
The so-called convention they keep referring to was self-organised, unlawful, and declared void by the Supreme Court. Repeating that narrative is not just misleading—it’s contempt of court,” she declared
