A fresh crisis has erupted in Nigeria’s Labour Party as Peter Obi’s camp publicly distanced itself from reconciliation efforts led by his former running mate, Datti Baba-Ahmed, with the Julius Abure-led faction. The Obidient Movement’s National Coordinator, Dr. Yunusa Tanko, declared loyalty exclusively to the Nenadi Usman caretaker committee backed by Obi and Abia Governor Alex Otti, stating: “Wherever Obi goes, that’s where we’re going.” This rejection comes despite Datti’s Abuja meeting where he recognized INEC-certified Abure as LP chairman while claiming neutrality, warning against “disastrous” political coalitions and vowing to unite all factions. The party now faces three competing leadership claims: Abure’s INEC-recognized group, Apapa’s Supreme Court-backed faction, and the Obi-aligned Usman camp.
Why This Matters
• Threatens LP’s viability as Nigeria’s main opposition force ahead of 2027 elections
• Reveals deepening personal/political rift between Obi and former ally Datti
• Raises questions about INEC’s role in certifying factional party leadership
Key Developments
✓ Three-Way Split: Abure (INEC-recognized), Apapa (court-backed), and Usman (Obi/Otti faction) all claim legitimacy
✓ Coalition Warning: Datti cautioned against repeating past mistakes where “removing governments led to disaster”
✓ Wike Controversy: Abure defended secret meeting with APC’s FCT Minister, straining LP’s opposition credibility
What Next?
→ Obi expected to make definitive statement on political future within days
→ INEC may be forced to intervene as leadership crisis violates electoral laws
→ Risk of mass defections if factions fail to reconcile before 2027 primaries
