- Abure to Obi: Leave Labour Party within 48hrs
- Usman to Abure: You are impostor, dubious…
By Abiola Olawale
The crisis rocking thecLabour Party (LP) has again deepened as the Julius Abure-led faction and the Nenadi Usman-led faction publicly clash over Peter Obi’s prominent role in the newly formed African Democratic Congress (ADC) coalition.
This political showdown is centered on Obi’s decision to back the ADC as the opposition’s platform for the 2027 general elections.
The Abure-led faction on Thursday issued a stern 48-hour ultimatum to Obi, the LP’s 2023 presidential candidate, demanding his resignation from the party.
In a statement released on Thursday, signed by National Publicity Secretary Obiora Ifoh, the faction accused Obi of undermining the LP’s structure by aligning with the ADC coalition.
The group described the coalition as a gathering of “recycled politicians” and “power mongers” with questionable motives, distancing itself from the opposition alliance aimed at unseating President Bola Tinubu in 2027.
The statement reads in part: “We are aware of several nocturnal meetings between Peter Obi and some of our members, lobbying them to join him in his new party. We’re also aware that a number of them have refused to defect with him.
“Labour Party has consistently said it is not part of the coalition and therefore, any of our members who are part of the coalition are given within 48 hours to formally resign their membership of the party.
“Labour Party is not available for people with a dual agenda, people with a deceptive persona. The party will not avail itself to individuals who have one leg in one Party and another leg elsewhere,” the statement read.
However, the Senator Nenadi Usman-led Labour Party (LP), has rejected the ultimatum given to Obi.
In a statement signed by Ken Eluma Asogwa, the Senior Special Assistant (Media), to the Acting National Chairman, Nenadi Usman, the faction dismissed the ultimatum given by the Abure-led faction as mischievous and dubious.
The statement reads in part: “The attention of the Labour Party has been drawn to misleading reports and commentaries suggesting that His Excellency, Mr. Peter Obi, has been issued a 48-hour ultimatum to resign from the party following his participation in the recent coalition talks and the unveiling of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) in Abuja.
“For the avoidance of doubt, the leadership of the Labour Party, on May 26, 2025, publicly declared its full support for Mr. Obi’s involvement in the coalition efforts aimed at creating a robust political alternative to rescue Nigeria from the disastrous misrule of the APC. That position has not changed.
“We wish to reaffirm that Mr. Peter Obi’s participation in the coalition activities, including the ADC unveiling, was done with the full knowledge, approval, and support of the Labour Party leadership.”
The New Diplomat reports that this comes after leaders and members of the opposition coalition had on Wednesday met in Abuja and announced the ADC as the platform for the 2027 election.
They selected former Senate President David Mark and ex-Osun governor Rauf Aregbesola as interim National Chairman and Secretary, respectively.
Aside from Obi, former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, former Kaduna governor Nasir El-Rufai; former Rivers governor Rotimi Amaechi, and many others were present at the meeting. Others include Dino Melaye, Solomon Dalong, Dele Momodu, Gabriel Suswam, Ireti Kingibe, and Sadique Abubakar.
