The Julius Abure-led faction of the Labour Party (LP) has expressed enthusiasm over the potential candidacy of Peter Obi in the 2027 presidential election.
Obi, who was the LP’s standard bearer in 2023, recently announced that he would once again seek the presidency on the party’s platform.
Reacting to Obi’s declaration, the LP National Publicity Secretary, Obiora Ifoh, told DAILY GAZETTE that the party welcomed the development.
“We are excited about the news. If we have waited all these while for two years with all the things that happened, we can still wait for tomorrow and the next, for the whole thing to crystallise.”
“Then we can now begin to talk about the way forward,” he said.
Acknowledging the political realities, Ifoh added, “Let me start by saying politics is all about interest.”
“The interest of every Nigerian, including the Labour Party, is to have a government that can help Nigerians come out of the doldrums and not enter into more crises, whether political, social or economic.”
Despite the internal rift within the party, where Obi and Abia State Governor, Alex Otti, are reported to support a rival leadership effort, the Abure faction maintains that Obi’s 2023 performance was commendable.
“I believe there are so many Nigerians who have that capacity and who can also help Nigeria come out. In 2023, we gave Peter Obi the ticket and he didn’t disappoint. Rather, the system disappointed them,” Ifoh said.
The LP is currently dealing with unresolved leadership disputes. A recent Supreme Court judgment failed to provide clarity on the legitimate leadership of the party.
However, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has so far recognized the Abure faction’s candidate for the upcoming Anambra State governorship election.
Asked whether Obi had directly contacted Abure, Ifoh confirmed ongoing informal engagement.
“Well, as I said elsewhere, the line of communication is not completely blocked. There are talks, though not formal. But before the 2027 poll, don’t forget that we have Anambra elections a few months from now.”
He emphasized Obi’s role in the forthcoming state election, stating, “Obi is from Anambra and we expect him to play a key role in making sure that the Labour Party wins the state”.
“So, there has been rapprochement here and there. I think at the right time, the parties will meet and thrash all the differences. From there, we’ll move on.”
“If he so wishes, as he said, that he will run the next election under the Labour Party, I think it’s a good thing for us in the party. It’s a win-win situation for everyone and we wait to see how we act the talk,” Ifoh concluded.
Meanwhile, Obi’s declaration has stirred conversations among opposition figures.
Former Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Babachir Lawal, a known ally in the Atiku Abubakar-led coalition, expressed surprise.
“I don’t know what is in his mind. You need to ask Obi himself when you see him. I just read it today too that he will be contesting in LP,” Lawal said.
In a viral video, Obi confirmed his decision to remain with the Labour Party.
When asked about his political platform for 2027, he said, “I will still continue to run in the Labour Party. I’m a member of the Labour Party.”
He also attributed the internal crises within the LP and other parties to the Nigerian government.
“What is happening in the Labour Party and the PDP is caused by the government, quote me anywhere,” Obi asserted.
Citing past experiences, Obi recalled, “We had a problem in our party before, in the past. Yar’Adua was the President. I went to him then; he called the INEC chairman (Prof. Maurice Iwu) and told him I don’t want any problem in any party. We were forced to fix it.”
He added, “But today, in all the parties, there are problems; these are deliberate problems caused by the system.”
“These are some of the things I want to clean up if I have the opportunity. Parties will function very well because you can’t have a system working without a strong opposition.”
Addressing the electorate, Obi urged them not to be disheartened by setbacks, saying, “the ultimate decision about whether the people’s votes count rests with voters.”
He also appealed to Nigerian youths to remain hopeful, noting that resistance to reform is inevitable.
“Positive change will also be resisted by those who are beneficiaries of the old order,” he said.
Obi called for a re-evaluation of leadership age limits.
“There should be a retirement age for politicians seeking public office,” he stated, adding that by 2027, he would be 65 years old and would prefer not to be running for office in his 70s.
