By Hamilton Nwosu
In a move to mend the ongoing leadership crisis within the Labour Party (LP), Dr. Yusuf Datti Baba-Ahmed, the party’s 2023 vice-presidential candidate, attended the National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting led by factional National Chairman Barrister Julius Abure in Abuja on Monday.
During the meeting, Baba-Ahmed pledged to spearhead reconciliation efforts to bring back key figures, including Peter Obi, the party’s 2023 presidential candidate, and Abia State Governor Alex Otti, to unify the party ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The high-profile gathering, held at the Labour Party’s National Secretariat, saw the presence of key Abure faction leaders, including National Secretary Umar Farouk, National Publicity Secretary Obiora Ifoh, National Youth Leader Ken Ahanotu, and state chairmen from all 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory.
Speaking at the NEC meeting convened by the Abure faction held in Abuja, Baba-Ahmed said he attended as a peacemaker.
“I am here as a peacemaker and I am also here to reconcile divergent opinions,” the party’s former VP candidate said.
He acknowledged attending meetings of the opposition coalition against the ruling party, but said that he remained a Labour Party member.
“I am very proud to say that I did attend meetings of certain attempts of a coalition in Nigeria. Morally speaking, if your neighbourhood invites you to discuss security, you must attend.
“However, if you attend and they discuss other matters outside that, you are at liberty to restore yourself to your former position. I have attended and I have listened to the coalition attempts. Yes, I remain in the Labour Party.”
The New Diplomat reports that the Labour Party has been embroiled in an internal crisis which has divided the party into two factions, with Abure leading one faction while Nenadi Usman leads the other faction.
