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Obi, Otti Move to Save Labour Party Amid Leadership Crisis

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As the Labour Party faces a deepening leadership crisis, key figures Peter Obi and Governor Alex Otti are stepping in to prevent the party from disintegrating. The crisis stems from the struggle between the embattled National Chairman, Barrister Julius Abure, and a newly formed 29-member Caretaker Committee. This committee, established on September 4 in Umuahia, Abia State, during a stakeholders’ meeting convened by Obi and Otti, was created in response to INEC’s de-recognition of Abure as chairman and the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) claiming sole ownership of the party.

Caretaker Committee Formation

The Caretaker Committee is chaired by former Finance Minister Senator Esther Nenadi Usman, with Senator Darlington Nwokocha serving as Secretary. In a letter to INEC Chairman Mahmood Yakubu, Obi and Otti explained that the committee was necessary due to the unresolved leadership crisis and a court judgment from March 2018. The letter noted that the Abure-led NWC failed to follow the agreement to hold inclusive national conventions and congresses, leading to a leadership vacuum.

Crisis Deepens with Internal and External Forces at Play

Despite the intervention, there are internal and external forces seemingly determined to destabilize the Labour Party before the 2027 general elections. Reports suggest that certain elements within the ruling APC are working to keep the party in turmoil, fearing a repeat of its strong performance in the 2023 elections. Internally, some elected officials within the Labour Party, who previously belonged to other major parties like the PDP and APC, are reportedly using the crisis as a pretext to return to their former parties.

Abure’s Rejection and Future Implications

Abure has rejected the caretaker committee, describing it as unconstitutional and accusing Otti of overstepping his authority. He insists that there is no leadership vacuum and challenges Otti to provide official INEC correspondence supporting his actions. In response, the Abure faction announced that Obi, Otti, and other party members would no longer enjoy automatic tickets for the 2027 elections, a decision met with criticism from other party leaders like Akin Osuntokun.

Conclusion

The Labour Party, once revived by Peter Obi’s presidential candidacy, now faces a battle for survival. The outcome of this crisis could determine whether the party remains a significant force in Nigerian politics or returns to the fringes as it once was.

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Politics

Lagos Assembly Crisis: ‘No plan to defect to Labour Party’  —  Lawmakers

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Members of the Lagos State House of Assembly have denied allegations of defecting from the All Progressives Congress (APC) to the Labour Party.

In a statement signed by Mr. Stephen Ogundipe, Chairman of the House Committee on Information, Strategy, and Security, the Assembly members refuted rumors circulating online, claiming that 25 members were planning to leave APC for an unnamed political party. A similar claim surfaced recently, suggesting that 27 members were considering joining the Labour Party due to leadership disputes within the Assembly.

Ogundipe stated that these claims had been unequivocally refuted, with members expressing their unwavering commitment to APC and their confidence in resolving internal issues through established party mechanisms.

“To avoid any confusion, no APC member of the Lagos State House of Assembly is considering defection. As true progressives, we acknowledge that challenges may arise, but we remain committed to addressing them through democratic and lawful processes,” he said.

He added that the party leadership is fully engaged, and any outstanding issues would be resolved amicably. Ogundipe urged the public to disregard the baseless reports designed to mislead and create unnecessary tension.

“We reaffirm our loyalty to the leader of our party and President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu,” Ogundipe concluded, emphasizing that the Lagos State House of Assembly would continue focusing on its legislative duties, enacting laws that promote the development of Lagos State.

Finally, he advised those spreading falsehoods to desist, reaffirming the Assembly’s dedication to its legislative mandate.

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Atiku Abubakar Denies Plans to Leave PDP for New Political Party

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The media office of former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has dismissed reports suggesting that he is preparing to leave the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for another political platform ahead of the 2027 general elections.

In a statement released in Abuja on Saturday, Atiku’s camp described the rumors as baseless and misleading.

“We have observed that some news platforms are peddling unverified information that former Vice President Atiku Abubakar is abandoning the Peoples Democratic Party,” the statement read.

The former vice president’s media team clarified that Atiku remains committed to the PDP and is actively working on forming a broad coalition to challenge the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in 2027.

“Atiku is advocating a robust coalition that would accommodate all opposition parties – the PDP inclusive,” the statement added. “It is fallacious and unfounded to allege that the Waziri is jumping the PDP ship.”

The statement further emphasized that Atiku’s focus remains on uniting opposition forces to “rescue Nigeria from the grip of the APC.”

Atiku, who was the PDP’s presidential candidate in the 2023 election, has been vocal about the need for a strong opposition alliance to counter what he describes as the failures of the current administration.

The media office urged Nigerians to disregard speculations about Atiku’s defection, reaffirming that he remains a committed member of the PDP.

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Anambra guber: Concerns over PDP aspirants’ inability to pick forms

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The All Progressives Congress (APC) has officially adopted the indirect primary method for selecting its candidate for the November 8, 2025, Anambra governorship election. This decision was announced by the party’s National Secretary, Ajibola Bashiru, after a National Working Committee (NWC) meeting held at the party’s national headquarters in Abuja.

 

Bashiru stated that the decision aligns with the position of the Anambra State chapter of the APC. He also confirmed that the Abdullahi Ganduje-led NWC will meet with aspirants and stakeholders next Tuesday to finalize the modalities for the primary. Dismissing speculations that the party had already endorsed a preferred candidate, Bashiru emphasized that all seven aspirants remain in contention.

 

Meanwhile, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) is facing concerns over its inability to attract aspirants for the Anambra governorship race. With the deadline for the sale of nomination forms fast approaching, no candidate has yet purchased the party’s N40 million expression of interest and nomination forms.

 

The PDP had recently expressed confidence in reclaiming Anambra, following a peaceful zonal congress in Enugu, where party leaders unanimously re-elected the Ali Odefa-led executive. However, reports indicate that high costs and internal crises within the party are discouraging aspirants.

 

With uncertainty surrounding the PDP, aspirants are now turning to alternative platforms such as the APC, Labour Party (LP), and the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) for their governorship ambitions.

 

As the election race intensifies, political observers will be watching to see how the PDP resolves its internal challenges and whether the APC’s chosen primary process will unify or divide its ranks.

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