By Peter Onyekachukwu 
Peter Onyekachukwu
Tension is mounting within the Labour Party (LP) following a dramatic move by the Julius Abure-led faction, which has issued a 48-hour ultimatum to former presidential candidate, Mr. Peter Obi, demanding his resignation from the party over his recent alliance with the Africa Democratic Congress (ADC).
Obi’s visible presence at the unveiling of the ADC as the platform for a new opposition coalition against the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) has sparked outrage among LP leadership, who accused him of dual political loyalty and working at cross purposes with the party’s values and direction.
Speaking in Abuja on Thursday, the National Publicity Secretary of the LP, Obiora Ifoh, lashed out at Obi and his supporters, labeling the coalition “a gathering of power mongers” and warning that the Labour Party would not tolerate “dual agendas or deceptive personas.” Ifoh claimed Obi had been holding secret meetings to lobby LP members to defect to his new political base under the ADC.
“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,” he said.
According to Ifoh, the Labour Party is not part of the emerging coalition and stands by its mission to create a truly progressive, youth-driven platform for Nigerians seeking credible change.
He also took a swipe at the “new Nigeria” rhetoric often promoted by Obi and his supporters, describing it as misleading. “Nearly 70 percent of the Nigerian population are youths who are tired of the old order. The new Nigeria of our dream can only be realized through the Labour Party,” he added.
This unfolding political rift has once again spotlighted the challenges within Nigeria’s opposition ahead of the 2027 general elections. For many young Nigerians who supported Obi in 2023, the development raises questions about the sustainability of a united political front against the dominant APC.
The ultimatum could mark a turning point in Obi’s political trajectory and the fate of a fragmented opposition hoping to capitalize on growing public discontent. As the 48-hour deadline ticks, political watchers across the country await Obi’s next move.