The Labour Party has announced that it is moving to expel its former presidential flag bearer, Peter Obi, over his active involvement in an emerging opposition coalition aimed at challenging President Bola Tinubu’s administration in 2027.
This revelation came from Labour Party chieftain Abayomi Arabambi, who appeared Tuesday on Channels Television’s The Morning Brief.
He argued that Obi’s alignment with the new coalition, while still identifying with the Labour Party, violates the party’s constitution and would not be tolerated.
“Let me make it very clear: we are convening a NEC [National Executive Council] meeting where he [Obi] will be expelled. It is unconstitutional for you to belong to two political parties at a time. They have deceived him to their side, and there he shall remain,” Arabambi declared.
Arabambi explained that the party’s NEC will formally recommend Obi’s expulsion, which would be ratified at the party’s national convention.
He sharply criticized Obi’s association with the opposition bloc, describing it as disloyalty to the Labour Party.
“Obi will be expelled from our party. He is no longer a member. It is not within his right to claim, ‘I am still a member of the Labour Party,’ and at the same time be hobnobbing with what we call the ‘yahoo yahoo’ coalition. We are not going to accept that,” he said.
Challenging the perception that Obi built the Labour Party, Arabambi insisted it was the party that gave Obi the opportunity to shine in 2023.
“I want to correct a very wrong notion, Obi did not make the Labour Party; the Labour Party made Peter Obi. It was just a chance of circumstance because of the #EndSARS protests and the failings of past administrations. Nigerians were simply tired.”
“It’s because of our own integrity. That was what gave Obi what he is today. He should be banking on our goodwill, not the other way around. He started the crisis in the Labour Party,” Arabambi added.
He further accused Obi of authoritarian behavior, arguing that it disqualifies him from playing a leadership role in the party.
“If he can fight party members to do his will, then he is not fit to run the party.”
Arabambi reaffirmed that there is no factional leadership in the Labour Party and that Julius Abure remains the party’s only national chairman.
“Let me also make it clear: we do not have groups in the Labour Party. We have only one leadership under Julius Abure, our national chairman.”
The statements follow a 48-hour ultimatum issued to Peter Obi by the Abure-led leadership, demanding that he resign from the party due to his growing relationship with the opposition coalition.
“Labour Party is not part of the coalition. Therefore, any of our members who are part of the coalition are given within 48 hours to formally resign his membership of the party,” the party’s spokesperson Obiora Ifoh said in a statement dated July 3.
“Labour Party is not available for people with dual agendas or deceptive personas. We will not allow individuals to have one leg in our party and the other elsewhere.”
Ifoh went on to criticize the coalition, describing its members as political opportunists.
He said they are “interested in relaunching themselves into the circle of power.”
The opposition coalition had earlier held a major strategy meeting in Abuja on July 2, where it adopted the African Democratic Congress (ADC) as its official platform for the 2027 elections.
Former Senate President, David Mark, was named interim national chairman, while ex-Osun State governor Rauf Aregbesola was appointed secretary.
Several notable political figures were present at the meeting, including Atiku Abubakar, Nasir El-Rufai, Rotimi Amaechi, Dino Melaye, Dele Momodu, Gabriel Suswam, Ireti Kingibe, Emeka Ihedioha, and Sadique Abubakar, as well as Peter Obi himself.
