Peter Obi Risks Losing Labour Party Ticket Over ADC Ties, Datti May Get the Nod – LP Secretary Warns

The Labour Party’s National Secretary, Umar Farouk, has issued a strong warning that Peter Obi may forfeit his chance to secure the party’s presidential ticket for the 2027 general elections if he continues to associate with the African Democratic Congress (ADC). Speaking in an interview with Trust TV, Farouk criticized Obi’s ongoing engagement with the ADC, describing it as a conflict of loyalty that could disqualify him from being considered as the party’s standard-bearer.

Farouk emphasized that the Labour Party’s presidential ticket is not automatically reserved for Obi, despite his status as the party’s 2023 presidential candidate and a prominent figure in the opposition space. According to him, the ticket will be open to all eligible aspirants, including Yusuf Datti Baba-Ahmed, who served as Obi’s running mate in the last election.

“Datti is qualified to contest for the presidency as good as Peter Obi,” Farouk stated. “So, the seat of that candidacy is not reserved for anybody. It is open for a competitive contest.”

He further stressed that if Baba-Ahmed decides to pursue the presidency under the Labour Party, the leadership will provide a level playing field for him. “If Datti is willing to aspire for presidency and he wants to do that under the Labour Party, we will open it. Come and buy the form, mobilise his support, and then get elected.”

Farouk’s remarks come on the heels of Baba-Ahmed’s recent statement in which he expressed interest in running for president in 2027, should Obi opt out. While reiterating his support for Obi, Baba-Ahmed maintained that he is not desperate to become president but remains available to serve if the need arises.

The Labour Party secretary, however, issued a stern warning to party members fraternizing with other political platforms, saying such actions could lead to disqualification from internal contests. “There’s no way you’ll continue to romance with other political parties and then still come back and have one leg in the Labour Party. No, ab initio, you may be disqualified,” he said.

Farouk’s comments are already stirring political conversations about the future direction of the Labour Party and its internal democracy ahead of 2027. With Baba-Ahmed being positioned as a viable alternative, and Obi’s loyalty being publicly questioned, the party appears to be setting the stage for a competitive and possibly contentious presidential primary.