The Labour Party (LP) is currently embroiled in a deepening crisis that has intensified following a series of accusations and counterclaims between its 2023 presidential candidate, Peter Obi, and the party’s leadership. The conflict centers on the party’s future direction ahead of the 2027 general elections.
On Tuesday, Umar Farouk, the National Secretary of the Labour Party, publicly accused Peter Obi of engaging in a deliberate and ongoing campaign of media blackmail targeting the party’s National Chairman, Julius Abure, and other senior officials. This accusation came shortly after Obi’s interview on Arise Television, where he claimed that the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) had infiltrated the Labour Party with the aim of destabilizing its leadership.
The party’s leadership swiftly dismissed Obi’s allegations as baseless and challenged him to substantiate his claims with evidence. Farouk emphasized that Obi was avoiding accountability for the internal disputes within the party, stating, “Our attention was called to an interview granted by Obi wherein he alleged that the APC-led Federal Government has infiltrated the leadership of the Labour Party and is fomenting crisis in the party. But when asked to produce evidence, Obi had nothing tangible to offer.”
Farouk further criticized Obi’s narrative, asserting that political parties commonly face internal challenges and that Obi was misleading Nigerians about the origins of LP’s troubles. He placed responsibility squarely on Obi and Abia State Governor Dr. Alex Otti, who remains suspended for anti-party activities. “Nobody is infallible. When good leaders fail, they should take responsibility. Obi failed in providing leadership for the party and should own up to that failure instead of shifting blame,” Farouk added.
Despite the tensions, Farouk acknowledged Obi’s recognition of Julius Abure as the legitimate National Chairman during the interview, describing it as a tacit acceptance of the party’s leadership. “As far as we are concerned, the issue is settled. Julius Abure remains the national chairman of the Labour Party. That fact is not in dispute,” he said, urging Obi and other dissatisfied members to reconcile and work towards party unity.
Meanwhile, Peter Obi continues to advocate for political reform and the election of credible, compassionate leaders in 2027. At the Abuja public presentation of “Obi: The Political Change Agent,” authored by journalist Ike Abonyi, Obi compared Nigeria’s current predicament to a sinking Titanic, emphasizing that the upcoming election represents a critical opportunity to save the nation.
“Now we must focus on getting the right people into the National Assembly, the House of Representatives—people who will bring peace. That’s what we didn’t do last time. We must not allow people who just want to make money from politics. If your goal is to make money, you’re part of the problem,” Obi declared.
He lamented the existence of a “self-serving class of leaders who are indifferent to the suffering of everyday Nigerians,” urging citizens to actively participate in the next election cycle. “Don’t tell us you’re coming again. We will be everywhere this time. We will vote. The votes will count. And those who were not counted before—we will count them now,” he warned.
Obi also drew attention to the nation’s security challenges, likening Nigeria’s situation to a state of war. “Today in Nigeria, we’re not officially at war, yet Nigerians are living in IDP camps in their own country. Nigerians are refugees in Chad. Nigerians are refugees in Cameroon. And we are not at war?” he questioned, attributing the crisis to governments that have failed to care for their people.
