The Labour Party (LP) has thrown its full weight behind its 2023 presidential candidate, Peter Obi, following his involvement in a new opposition coalition led by former Senate President David Mark.
In a strongly worded statement issued on Thursday, Senator Nenadi Usman, the Acting National Chairman of the Labour Party, condemned the 48-hour ultimatum issued to Obi by the Julius Abure-led faction, describing the group as “political jesters with no legitimate standing in the party.”
Speaking through her spokesperson, Ken Asogwa, Usman asserted that the Abure-led group lacks any legal or political authority within the party structure, citing a Supreme Court ruling that nullified their leadership and confirmed their suspension for “serial acts of indiscipline and anti-party conduct.”
“The public is advised to disregard the distractions from these discredited elements,” Usman stated. “It is the remnants of the disorder left behind by these impostors that the current leadership continues to clean up.”
She reaffirmed that Peter Obi’s participation in the opposition coalition — which includes top political figures such as Atiku Abubakar, Nasir El-Rufai, Rotimi Amaechi, and others — was approved by the legitimate Labour Party leadership.
The party had, she said, publicly endorsed Obi’s coalition efforts on May 26, 2025, as part of a broader strategy to present a united political front ahead of the 2027 general elections.
“For the avoidance of doubt, Mr. Peter Obi’s participation in the coalition, including the ADC unveiling, was done with the full knowledge and support of the Labour Party,” Usman emphasized.
A New Opposition Bloc Takes Shape
The unfolding coalition, which gathered on Wednesday in Abuja, formally adopted the African Democratic Congress (ADC) as its political vehicle for the 2027 polls. David Mark was unveiled as interim National Chairman, with former Osun State Governor Rauf Aregbesola appointed interim National Secretary.
The meeting witnessed the convergence of heavyweight political figures from across party lines, signaling what observers describe as an unprecedented effort to unseat the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
Notable attendees included:
Atiku Abubakar (Former Vice President), Nasir El-Rufai (Former Governor of Kaduna), Rotimi Amaechi (Former Rivers Governor), Dele Momodu, Dino Melaye, Solomon Dalong, Gabriel Suswam, Ireti Kingibe, Emeka Ihedioha, and Air Marshal Sadique Abubakar, among others.
