Presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP) in the 2023 general election, Mr Peter Obi, has reaffirmed his commitment to the party despite his recent involvement in a new political coalition spearheaded by the African Democratic Congress (ADC).
Speaking during a televised interview on Channels TV on Sunday, Obi dismissed mounting speculation that his participation in the emerging coalition signified a defection from the Labour Party. He clarified that his engagement was aimed at fostering a united front ahead of the 2027 general election, not a departure from the LP.
“Today, I’m a member of the Labour Party and I remain so. However, we have all agreed to collaborate through a coalition for the 2027 elections, for which the ADC has been adopted as the platform for coordination,” Obi stated.
The ADC-led alliance, reportedly designed to challenge the incumbent President Bola Ahmed Tinubu through the ballot, includes several high-profile political figures. Among them are former Rivers State Governor, Chibuike Amaechi; former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai; ex-Senate President, David Mark; and former Vice President, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar.
Reacting to developments, Julius Abure, the factional National Chairman of the Labour Party, alleged that Obi and other participants in the coalition had, by their actions, effectively exited the party. He also accused Abia State Governor, Dr Alex Otti, of misleading the public by continuing to associate with the LP while allegedly joining the coalition’s caretaker committee.
Abure further revealed that the Labour Party leadership is initiating strategic reforms to reposition the party ahead of the 2027 electoral cycle.
While Obi has not made any formal declaration of departure from the LP, several other members of the coalition, including Amaechi, El-Rufai, and Atiku, are reported to have severed ties with their previous parties.
