Former Labour Party vice-presidential candidate, Datti Baba-Ahmed, on Friday affirmed that former Anambra State Governor, Peter Obi, remains a member of the Labour Party, dismissing rumours that he had exited the party.
Speaking to journalists shortly after the party’s National Executive Council meeting in Abuja, an event attended by officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission, Baba-Ahmed said there was no indication that Obi had left.
“To the best of our knowledge, our brother, His Excellency Peter Obi, is still a member of the Labour Party. Nothing has changed. If he were here now, I would have shifted my seat to the left for him,” he said.
Baba-Ahmed maintained that despite internal wrangling, the party had weathered its recent crisis and emerged stronger.
He described INEC’s presence at the NEC meeting as a significant validation of the session and the party’s leadership structure.
“The Labour Party has not reduced in any way. We have only increased in numbers,” he noted.
“With the submission of our leader, the National Secretary, we have gone through rough times, as is usual with political associations, and have emerged from it.”
He added that the meeting reflected a renewed push for reconciliation across the party’s factions.
“This is a renewed drive for reconciliation. I am here as a loyal party member to continue opening our arms to embrace new and existing members as we prepare for the national assignment ahead of us,” he said.
Baba-Ahmed also commented on the escalating insecurity across the country, recalling that the Labour Party had previously warned Nigerians of the consequences of electing the wrong leadership.
“Only two days ago, a state of national emergency was declared in Nigeria. If you recall, we warned Nigeria and the world that this was likely to happen, and it is happening,” he said.
According to him, the recent mass school abductions and the killing of senior military officers were symptoms of leadership failure.
“These would never have happened if the Labour Party had formed the government of Nigeria,” he added.
He reaffirmed the party’s commitment to workers’ welfare.
“It is the birthright of LP, among all political parties, to ensure decent and realistic living wages for all workers. This will be a defining issue from now until 2027 and beyond,” he said.
Friday’s NEC meeting, chaired by National Chairman Julius Abure, is part of broader efforts to resolve the leadership conflict triggered by the disputed 2024 national convention in Nnewi.
The fallout from that convention split the party into rival factions backed by key figures, including Obi and Abia State Governor Alex Otti.
