This is not the best time for 2023 presidential candidate of the Labour Party, Peter Obi, as his party is deeply in a mess.
First, the ongoing saga between the Julius Abure led National Working Committee of the Labour Party and the Comrade Joe Ajaero led Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), is threatening the future of the Labour Party as a whole.
Secondly, the party has a lot of questions to answer over the money donated during the last elections.
We learnt that the thrust of the conflict is the battle for the control of the party structure.
This ongoing saga is unsettling Peter Obi and his 2027 presidential ambition. In the last few months, Peter Obi has been going around visiting groups and different people. He had been seen among the core North Muslims and breaking fast with them. All these are done to better position him for next presidential election. But rumours have it that Mr Peter Obi is worried at the state of affairs within his party (Labour Party). And he’s contemplating on the next move.
Yes, the Labour Party was formed by the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC).
Speaking about the motive behind the formation of LP in an interview aired on Channels Television on October 3, 2023, NLC President, Joe Ajaero said the party was formed to allow ordinary Nigerians to contest and win elections, adding that even Peter Obi, who was the party’s standard bearer, does not belong to any labour union.
Hear him: “Within that time when Adams Oshiomole was contesting for governorship, the Labour Party aligned with those that formed the APC, AD, the ACN then to sponsor Adams for him to have a joint ticket and it wasn’t a crime if the Labour Party decides to form an alliance with the other political parties.
“Thereafter, we changed and decided to have our political party and today we’re not in alliance with any political party. And we don’t have any apology for forming a political party that would be beneficial to all the ordinary Nigerians …all the members of the Labour Party are not workers.
They’re not members of trade unions. People in the National Assembly and even the Presidency are not members of trade unions. The Presidential candidate of the Labour Party is not in any way related to any Labour union.
“Any Nigerian that wants to belong to the Labour Party is free. The reason we formed the Labour Party is that Nigerian workers under the minimum wage cannot buy form and contest elections under any of the political parties be it APC or PDP.
“That’s why we say we must have our own political party where a messenger, clerk can contest elections and win. Even Okada riders are in the National Assembly today through the Labour Party. If anybody is having any doubt about it, the aim of forming the LP has been achieved,” he added.
According to an insider who spoke to City People, he revealed that Peter Obi is likely to exit the party knowing full well that it’s not about the Labour Party but his name. He believes that if he runs for any office he would be favoured because of his obidient movement and at this point he could move to another party and even form a strong alliance with a strong candidate like El Rufai. This became more pronounced
a few weeks ago when it was been rumoured that both Peter Obi and El Rufai were about exiting their various political parties against 2027.
The former Kaduna Governor reportedly attended the meeting at the Abuja residence of Senator Abubakar Gada, alongside SDP chairman Shehu Musa Gabam and other party chieftains, a few weeks ago.
It was learned that the move was made towards strengthening his political affiliations ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The source hinted further that the former Governor, who is a chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC), was there on a consultation visit to the National Chairman of the SDP, Alhaji Shehu Musa Gabam. Prior before that, he had visited several former Head of States. On 11 December 2023, El-Rufai visited former President Muhammadu Buhari.
On 14th December 2023, Elrufai visited Ibrahim Babangida Badamasi.On 24th December 2023, El-Rufai visited former President Obasanjo. On 21st March 2024, Elrufai pays a surprise visit to SDP Secretariat in Abuja. 22nd March 2024, El-Rufai paid a visit to suspended Senator Abdul Ningi.
With this developments, a lot of people believe he would dump APC for another party and it’s likely to be SDP.
Speaking on this issue was a former spokesman of the defunct Atiku-Okowa Presidential Campaign Council, Daniel Bwala, who alleged that the 2023 Labour Party, LP, presidential candidate, Peter Obi, is plotting to unite with former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai in the Social Democratic Party, SDP.
Bwala claimed Obi’s move followed the decision of the Nigerian Labour Congress, NLC, to take over the LP from Julius Abure’s leadership.
Posting on X, Bwala said the coalition can’t give President Bola Tinubu sleepless nights ahead of the 2027 presidential elections.
He wrote: “BREAKING-Peter Obi @PeterObi allegedly planning to unite with El-rufai @elrufai in Social Democratic Party as Nigerian Labour Congress set to take ownership and custody of their political party, the @NgLabour. Recall that there was a judgment of the court that states that Nigeria Labour Congress owns Labour Party. NLC is now prepared to take custody of that party.
“Twist and turns in the coming days. But all that will not give sleepless nights to @officialABAT who himself has his magic wands to wield.
This is coming when El-Rufai had visited the headquarters of the SDP in Abuja.
El-Rufai paid a consultation visit to the SDP National Chairman, Alhaji Shehu Musa Gabam.
According to the source, Alhaji Shehu Musa Gabam, described El-Rufai as a friend with high political pedigree and added that Nigeria needed transformational leaders like him.
The All Progressives Congress, APC, chieftain was received by the members of the party’s National Working Committee, NWC.
