The cracks in the Labour Party expanded at the weekend as its presidential candidate in the 2023 elections, Peter Obi, has threatened to dump the party ahead of the 2027 election season.
He, however, reaffirmed his membership of the party, explaining that he did not attend its National Convention because its national chairman, Julius Abure did not embark on wide consultation before the exercise.
This is coming as the Director General of the Obi-Datti Presidential Campaign Organisation in the 2023 elections, Akin Osuntokun said on Saturday that the absence of Obi, members of the National Assembly and other strategic stakeholders of the party at the just concluded National Convention of the party at Nnewi in Anambra State was an indication of the non-acceptability of the convention.
The LP has been hit by crisis following the allegations of misappropriation of funds, tussle for leadership and calls for the resignation of the party’s chairman.
Last Wednesday, the LP conducted a controversial national convention in Anambra State, which re-elected Abure as its national chairman.
Obi and the only governor on the party’s platform, Alex Otti of Abia State did not attend the convention.
Speaking at a spaces session on X (formerly Twitter) organised by Parallel Facts on Friday night, Obi said he is still a member of the LP, noting that he will never engage in anti-party activities.
Obi said he ignored the convention because the LP leadership under Abure failed to do wide consultations with key stakeholders of the party before embarking on the said convention.
He emphasized the need for the right thing to be done to salvage the party, adding that he is more passionate about building a new Nigeria than building a new Labour Party.
Speaking on the crisis rocking the party, the former Anambra State governor said the focus should be on building a new Nigeria.
He also called for the structuring of the ‘Obidient movement’.
“The Labour Party, once a beacon of hope for progressive ideas, has regrettably become synonymous with internal squabbles, thereby reducing its capacity to fulfill the aspirations of electorates”
“I am still a member of the Labour Party and I don’t and will never engage in anti-party activities.
“We will do whatever is possible. As we go along, we will see what happens. Let us remain focused on building a new Nigeria.
“We want the party to work and pursue what we set out to do and that is to change the country. We should not lose that focus and face minor issues that will distract us.
“We promised to build Nigeria, we did not promise to build a new Labour Party.
“It is the standard practice around the world where movements form themselves into blocs and are part of the political process,” Obi said.
He explained that his primary focus, which committed members of the Obidient Movement have bought into, is all about making Nigeria work for all citizens; as such, he refuses to be distracted.
According to him, the contrived crisis in the Labour Party was part of a distractive strategy, which neither he nor his supporters were willing to fall for.
Obi said, “Our engagement is about Nigeria; they are trying to change our focus. What we want to do is not about Labour Party; it is about what the Obidients want to do about Nigeria.
“We are thinking about water, we are thinking about power, we are thinking about employment, thinking about security. That should be our focus.
“The other matter we will deal with. We were somewhere; we didn’t start with Labour.
“I’m a Christian. Jesus said; when you go into a city, try to change them, live with them, fast with them. In the end, if you can’t, come out and even wash the sand that is on your shoes.
“He didn’t say go there and die with them. I tell you, I’m making spirited efforts to change them (LP), but I’m not going to die with them.
“That will not stop what we set out to do. We will try to change them (LP), if we can’t, we will leave them; we will not die with them.”
NLC rejects Abure’s return
Meanwhile, the National Chairman of the Labour Party, Julius Abure, secured reelection on Wednesday at a convention held in Nnewi, Anambra State, amid heavy security.
At the convention, the party also announced its decision to reserve its presidential ticket for the 2027 general election “solely” for Peter Obi, who was its presidential candidate last year.
It accorded the same privilege to the Governor of Abia State, Alex Otti.
But the Nigeria Labour Congress, which wanted Abure out as LP leader, declared the Wednesday convention a nullity, vowing that Abure would not be recognised.
Reacting to the outcome of the convention, NLC spokesman, Benson Upah, declared, “It’s an illegality, a nullity. The whole exercise was a charade! Nothing can legitimise such brazen impunity.”
When asked for labour’s next line of action, Upah said, “You wait and see.”
The convention, which was held at the Grand Seasons Hotel in Nnewi, had scanty attendance.
At the end of the exercise, the Deputy Governor of Abia State, Ikechukwu Emetu, who served as the chairman of the convention, declared Abure winner after a unanimous support from the delegates.
Emetu represented his principal, Governor Otti.
A former National Organising Secretary of the party, Chief Clement Ojukwu, emerged as the Deputy National Chairman of the party.
About seven other persons were also unanimously elected to the National Working Committee of the Labour Party.
In the interim, 14 former members of the NWC were dropped, either for non-performance or having served out the allowable number of years as stipulated by the party’s constitution.
One of the officers, Chief Innocent Okeke (Agumba), the immediate past Assistant National Chairman (South East) stepped down, having served out the allowable two terms.
Notable absentees at the national convention were the party’s 2023 presidential candidate, Peter Obi, his running mate, Datti Baba-Ahmed, Senator Victor Umeh and Senator Tony Nwoye.
But in a communiqué that circulated at the end of the convention, the LP said it had reviewed the performance of its presidential candidate in the 2023 election, and its governor in Abia State, Peter Obi and Alex Otti, respectively, and had decided to reserve its presidential and governorship ticket for them respectively, in the 2027 general elections.
The communiqué, which was signed by Abure and the National Secretary, Alhaji Umar Ibrahim, also called on President Bola Tinubu to tackle the rising insecurity and inflation in the country.
The communiqué read, “Based on the antecedents of the presidential candidate before, during and after the 2023 general elections, it was recommended that the 2027 presidential ticket of the party be solely reserved for His Excellency, Mr. Peter Gregory Obi, the national leader of the party.’’
“Furthermore, the convention in session reviewed the ongoing development and performance of its Governor in Abia State, His Excellency, Dr. Alex Otti, and passed a vote of confidence in him and recommended the 2027 Abia State governorship ticket of the party be reserved for Dr. Alex Otti.”
In the communiqué, the convention “called on the President and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Nigeria, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, to quickly take drastic and proactive steps to save the economy from total collapse to revive the economy and put it on the path of growth and development.”
The party also assured its members across the country of an optimistic and bright future.
“Now that elections are over, the Convention in session encourages all groups to collapse their structure at the ward, local, and National levels into the already existing structure of the party,” it added.
Six Enugu lawmakers dump LP
The crisis facing the party also took another dimension as six members of the Enugu State House of Assembly elected on the platform of the Labour Party, on Thursday, defected to the People’s Democratic Party.
This was as a statement on Thursday by Sylvester Ejiofor, who described himself as the Chairman of the LP Board of Trustees, declared that the party’s leadership had been taken over from Julius Abure.
Ejiofor, in the statement, declared that Abure’s tenure had ended, dismissing his re-election on Wednesday at a convention held in Nnewi, Anambra State.
The six Enugu LP lawmakers, who defected from the party, hinged their decision on the crisis rocking the party, alluding to the recent picketing of the LP state offices by the Nigeria Labour Congress recently.
The lawmakers cited “the existence of irreconcilable division, incessant crisis within the Labour Party at the national level and across all the state chapters.”
“Regrettably, the party has evolved into a state of perpetual discord with various factions embroiled in legal battles, thereby undermining its ability to effectively serve the interest of the people.
“The Labour Party, once a beacon of hope for progressive ideas, has regrettably become synonymous with internal squabbles, thereby reducing its capacity to fulfill the aspirations of electorates.”
They cited the leadership tussles between the LP National Chairman, Julius Abure; and the factional National Chairman, Lamidi Apapa faction.
They expressed hope that the PDP would give them the platform to continue to serve the interests of their people and thanked the leadership of the Labour Party for their support.
The defectors included the Chief Whip of the House and member representing Igboeze North I, Ejike Eze; the Leader of the House and member representing Enugu North, Johnson Ugwu, and the member representing Enugu South Rural, Princess Ugwu.
Others were the member representing Nsukka East, Pius Ezeugwu, member representing Igbo-Etiti West, Amuka Williams, and member representing Oji River, Osita Eze.
The motion for their defection was moved by Iloabuchi Aniagu and was seconded by Eneh.
The Enugu State Chairman of the party, Casmir Agbo, told journalists that the party would meet on Thursday this week and take decision on their defection.
Meanwhile, in a statement on Thursday, Ejiofor, who described himself as the LP BoT Chairman, said the BoT had taken over the party.
He said, “Following the expiration of the tenure in office of the immediate past National Working Committee of the LP headed by Mr. Julius Abure, the BoT, in line with the party’s constitution, has stepped in to steer the affairs of the LP. This step is to avoid any leadership vacuum in the LP.
“Furthermore, the BoT of the LP, in consultation with major stakeholders in the party will soon communicate the processes for the conduct of an all-inclusive and expansive national convention of the LP.
“This is in line with the March 20, 2018 Federal High Court consent judgment delivered by Justice Gabriel Kolawole which recognised the Nigeria Labour Congress as the owner of the LP and mandated that an all-inclusive and expansive national convention of the LP be held.
“The decision of the BoT is also in furtherance of the agreement signed between the former national chairman of the LP, Mr. Julius Abure, and the NLC and the Trade Union Congress on 27th June, 2022, which was mediated by the Independent National Electoral Commission.”
Labour Party has no BoT
But reacting, the National Publicity Secretary of LP, Obiora Ifoh, said the BoT was an unknown entity to the Labour Party.
In a statement issued on Thursday, Ifoh said, “Ever since Ejiofor stepped down as the first national chairman of the Labour Party over two decades ago, he has neither attended any meeting nor played any noticeable role as a member of the party.
“He is not even known in his ward and has not paid a single dime as membership due which qualifies him as a member. It is surprising that after he was ‘visited’ by some leaders of NLC, he suddenly woke up from his slumber.
“The point here is that the Labour Party is not aware of the existence of any Board of Trustees. Recall that NLC has continued to propose for the reconstitution of the BoT as well as the convocation of the national convention.
“Over 90 per cent of persons being suggested to form membership of the proposed BoT have since left the party to join other political parties, some even contested various political positions on the platform of other political parties while some others featured prominently in the presidential campaigns of the other political parties even when Labour Party equally featured a candidate in the 2023 general election.
“This is what desperation in the ranks of the NLC can cause. Why not let the man enjoy his retirement? Why drag him into your mess? Let Ejiofor show evidence of one meeting he convened in the last one decade of his so-called BoT. Enough of all these political muscles flexing, Julius Abure has just been elected by the convention for the first time as the national chairman of the Labour Party. We urge our detractors to please sheathe the sword and join us to salvage the nation.”
Party members move against Abure
The Point gathered that aggrieved party members are preparing a legal challenge to what they called Abure’s convention.
A close ally of Obi, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, told The Point said, “Obi doesn’t take a public stance on issues until he weighs the issues and reviews facts. As a leader, he has been working tirelessly behind the scenes. He is aware there are internal and external dimensions to this conflict and can’t afford to play into the hands of detractors.
“Recall, amidst allegations of financial impropriety leveled against Abure by the erstwhile LP National Treasurer, Ms. Oluchi Opara, he recommended that a forensic audit of the party’s finances be carried out. As I speak to you, there is no evidence that this has been done. In various private interventions, he continues to make a case for an all-inclusive party leadership but a few who consider the LP platform as their personal fiefdom have refused to yield.”
Feelers from a critical mass within the party indicate growing discontent with the unfolding events.
The Obidient Movement, a group of ardent supporters of Obi, who boast membership across party lines, are said to be considering other options should the LP platform become “unavailable” for Obi to actualize his Presidential ambition come 2027.
Attempts by some “Obidients” to make inroads into the mainstream LP have so far been rebuffed. This, political pundits argue, is at the crux of the current crisis.
“The problem is that Labour Party members are too hungry and it is showing in the organisation of the party now. You can’t claim that they even respect Obi’s philosophy and principles”
A leading member of this group who pleaded anonymity in deference to the national leader, said, “Some of us knew what happened in 2023. Funds were raised and sent out to states for logistics but traditional politicians within the party did what they knew how to do best with such funds. We had embarrassing situations where agents who were largely volunteers couldn’t get ‘pure’ (sachet) water to drink even when we made provision, it was that bad. We can’t have a repeat of this, that’s why we are demanding accountability from the party leadership”.
“Obi is no stranger to changing political platforms. He started his political journey as a member of the PDP before he moved to All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) where he spent the greater part of eight years as Anambra State Governor before rejoining the People’s Democratic Party (PDP). He ditched the PDP platform to join the LP where he emerged as Presidential Candidate to contest the 2023 elections.”
The Director General of the Heritage Centre, Katch Ononuju, who identifies as an Obidient, said, “This Movement transcends political, ethnic and social divides. It is a movement that unites Nigerians who believe in Peter Obi’s person and political theory that a new Nigeria where doing the right things will become the norm is possible. I have heard speculations about the future of the movement and the Labour Party. In my view, it is pointless, there is no need. It is too early to begin to talk about such things. (Julius) Abure has just removed himself, how can you have a convention without Ward and State Congresses?
“How did you assemble the delegates you claimed voted at the convention? What kind of convention did you have without INEC and critical stakeholders like the NLC and the TUC? It took our movement seven, eight months to positively impact the electoral value of the Labour Party to make it a national brand. Right now, the issue of a platform is not and cannot be an issue.”
A former National Chairman of the Inter-Party Advisory Council, Peter Ameh, who is a leading member of the Labour Party, however said, “Without a doubt, Peter Obi is the fuel that propels the LP. For us to make progress as a party, we must ensure that our internal conflict resolution mechanisms work. I have always said this to Obidients, leaving the party is not the solution. If every time you have a quarrel with your wife you leave the marriage, you must be prepared for countless marriages in your lifetime.
“My advice to them is to remain and find an amicable solution to whatever issues that we have because political parties exist as vehicles for conflict resolution. Wherever there is more than one person you must prepare for conflict. Resolving these conflicts is part of the process.”
On his part, the party’s spokesman, Obiora Ifoh said, “Read the communiqué of our convention. Part of our resolution was that groups who worked outside the party should collapse their structures into the party to enhance coordination. We are a party guided by laws.”
However, it was gathered that some Obidients who can’t stand the confusion in the Labour party want a better organised platform for Obi.
“You can’t believe what happened during the 2023 elections,” one top Obidient said, adding ‘while Obi and his team were campaigning for votes some members of the party were campaigning for their pockets. The problem is that Labour Party members are too hungry and it is showing in the organisation of the party now. You can’t claim that they even respect Obi’s philosophy and principles. Why have they not done the audit Peter Obi told them to do? Obi preaches transparency but is LP secretariat transparent?
