Labour Party Crisis: Abure Loyalists Accuse Obi of Fueling Division, Call for Sanctions

Some Labour Party (LP) chieftains loyal to National Chairman Julius Abure have called for sanctions against the party’s 2023 presidential candidate, Peter Obi, over his alleged role in the party’s internal crisis. They warned that Obi could face his worst electoral defeat in 2027 if he continued to fuel division within the party.

Their concerns were voiced in separate interviews days after Abure expressed optimism that the ongoing leadership crisis would be resolved before the next general elections. He also extended an olive branch to Obi, Abia State Governor Alex Otti, and other aggrieved party members, following a Court of Appeal ruling that affirmed him as LP’s National Chairman. The judgment nullified the Nenadi Usman-led National Caretaker Committee, which had been set up by Obi and Otti’s camp. However, the Usman-led faction has since taken the matter to the Supreme Court, prolonging the party’s leadership tussle.

Dr. Blessing Elaigwu, convener of the Alliance for All Labour Party Professionals and Stakeholders, criticized Obi’s leadership approach, blaming him for the party’s stagnation over the past year. He warned that if Obi persisted in legal battles despite his loss at the Appeal Court, the party should sever ties with him. He accused Obi and Otti of orchestrating an illegal stakeholders’ meeting in Umuahia last September to remove Abure and install their allies, including Nenadi Usman and Darlington Nwokocha, as chairman and secretary.

Elaigwu argued that Obi should be focused on strengthening the party ahead of 2027 rather than engaging in internal conflicts. He also suggested that speculations about Obi planning to leave LP for another political party indicated a lack of commitment to the party’s stability.

Another party chieftain, Cornel Max-Nduaguibe, urged Obi to avoid derailing the momentum gained in the 2023 elections. As a member of the Obidient Movement, he called on Obi to use his influence to unite party members and prioritize transparency, accountability, and inclusivity. He stressed that resolving internal conflicts was crucial for the party’s success.

When contacted, Obi’s media aide, Umar Ibrahim, dismissed the allegations, stating that Obi was not interested in engaging in a “proxy war” with Abure’s camp. He emphasized that Obi would not respond to what he described as “shenanigans” from the LP chairman’s faction.