The National Publicity Secretary of the Julius Abure–led faction of the Labour Party, Obiora Ifoh, has accused the party’s former presidential candidate, Peter Obi, of acting in an undemocratic manner after the 2023 general election, following his recent defection to the African Democratic Congress.

Speaking in an interview, Ifoh dismissed claims that the Labour Party regretted presenting Obi as its presidential candidate, saying the party initially believed he met its ideological and leadership standards.

“At the time, we considered him suitable because he appeared to understand social democracy, equal opportunity and justice, which form the core of our ideology,” he said.

However, Ifoh noted that the party’s relationship with Obi deteriorated after the election, accusing him of attempting to impose undemocratic processes on the party’s leadership.

“What we later saw was not what we expected. He wanted us to take actions that were clearly undemocratic, and that was where the problem started,” he said.

He alleged that rather than rally party members after the election and court cases to build on the more than six million votes recorded in 2023, Obi sought the removal of the party’s elected executives.

“After the elections and court processes, we expected him to lead a post-election review, appreciate party leaders who campaigned across the country and bring everyone together. Instead, he demanded that our executive step down, even though we were duly elected and he supported the convention that produced us,” Ifoh said.

According to him, Obi allegedly mobilised loyal members of the National Assembly and the Abia State governor to forcefully remove the party leadership, contrary to the provisions of the party’s constitution.

Ifoh rejected allegations that the rift between Obi and the party stemmed from financial demands, insisting that Obi neither funded the party nor its campaign.

“No one ever asked Obi for money. During the campaign, he funded his own operations and did not give the party anything. He did not donate a vehicle, a bicycle or any financial support,” he said.

He explained that the Labour Party relied largely on proceeds from the sale of nomination forms and pro bono legal services to fund its campaigns and court cases.

“Thirty per cent of our forms were sold, while 70 per cent were given out. With what little we earned, we ran the party, funded campaigns and handled legal battles. Nobody has enriched himself in this process,” he said.

On the spate of lawsuits involving the party, Ifoh said Obi’s loyalists instituted multiple court cases after setting up a parallel leadership structure in Abia State in September 2024, claiming the party’s tenure had expired.

He described the move as ironic, noting that the same individuals had organised and endorsed the convention that returned Abure and his team to office.

Ifoh also accused the Independent National Electoral Commission of interfering in internal party affairs by refusing to upload Labour Party candidates for the FCT Area Council elections, despite court orders in favour of the Abure-led leadership.

On whether internal divisions influenced Obi’s decision to defect to the ADC, Ifoh said Obi had a long history of moving between political parties, contrary to his earlier public claims.

“He moved from PDP to APGA, back to PDP, then to the Labour Party, and now to ADC. Despite promising never to leave the Labour Party, he has done so,” he said.

He added that Obi preferred aligning with former governors and senators, whom the party had deliberately avoided in favour of youth-driven and reform-oriented leadership.

“These are the same people he once campaigned against. We told him our movement was not about men of yesterday who looted Nigeria,” he said.

Ifoh argued that the Labour Party’s 2023 performance was not solely dependent on Obi’s popularity, noting that the party existed and had elected officials before his emergence.

“Obi’s presence boosted our visibility, no doubt. But we handed over too much of the party’s structure to him, and that mistake has taught us important lessons,” he said.

On the Obidient movement, Ifoh described its members as loyal primarily to Obi rather than the Labour Party, claiming many of them never formally registered as party members.

“They were a support group for Obi, not for the party. Many of them caused internal crises, spread falsehoods and lacked grassroots electoral strength,” he said.

He concluded that the Labour Party was better positioned without internal conflict, stressing that Nigeria’s political future should not be tied to one individual.

“It is not about one man. One man cannot make a forest. The Labour Party has moved on, and we wish Obi well wherever he goes,” Ifoh said.

Former Kano State governor and senator, Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, has advised his associates serving in Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf’s administration to temporarily align with the governor’s reported move to the All Progressives Congress in order to ease mounting political tension in the state.

Kwankwaso made the appeal on Tuesday in a short video message shared on Facebook by his media aide, Saifullahi Hassan.

Governor Yusuf’s reported plan to defect to the APC has strained his relationship with Kwankwaso, who is widely regarded as his political mentor.

While Kwankwaso has resisted pressure to join the APC himself, he expressed concern over claims that elected officials were being compelled to formally declare allegiance to either the Kwankwasiyya or Gandujiyya political camps.

He described reports that local government chairmen, councillors, secretaries and other officials were being asked to sign documents declaring their loyalty as troubling and unacceptable.

“On my arrival in Kano on January 13, 2026, I observed some disturbing developments, particularly the policy forcing elected officials to openly state whether they belong to Kwankwasiyya or Gandujiyya. This is unfortunate and unacceptable to our supporters,” Kwankwaso said.

Efforts to obtain a response from the Kano State Government were unsuccessful. The Commissioner for Information, Ibrahim Waiya, and the governor’s spokesman, Sanusi Bature, could not be reached at the time of filing the report.

Kwankwaso recalled that the Kwankwasiyya Movement endured years of political opposition before returning to power in 2023 through strong grassroots mobilisation.

He said the movement’s objective has always been to improve the lives of Kano residents through education, employment opportunities, infrastructure and improved welfare.

He described Kano’s political contest as a clear choice between progress and regression, insisting that the Kwankwasiyya Movement operates on a defined ideological blueprint.

“Our movement has a clear direction. If you belong to it, you must follow its principles. In Kano, the choice is between light and darkness, and the people understand this clearly,” he said.

The former governor also reflected on the selection process for local government chairmen and councillors during the 2023 elections, noting that a broad-based committee oversaw the process and expressing confidence in the performance of those elected.

Addressing the reported defection crisis, Kwankwaso said many elected officials had expressed anxiety, fear and frustration since talks of a move to the APC began.

“Since the defection discussions started, many officials have been under serious pressure. Some have called me in distress, while others have experienced sleepless nights and serious health challenges,” he said.

Following consultations with key stakeholders, Kwankwaso said he decided to allow officials under pressure to temporarily declare allegiance to the governor as a practical step to reduce tension and protect them from threats.

He stressed that the move does not signal the collapse of the Kwankwasiyya Movement, noting that preparations for the 2027 elections have not yet begun.

“Our supporters should remain calm and alert. This decision is meant to douse tension and protect those under pressure. We know where everyone stands, and the time for full political engagement is still ahead,” he said.

Kwankwaso also thanked members of his caucus, many of whom he said were enticed with promises that remained unfulfilled over the past three years.

He further acknowledged Governor Yusuf for publicly recognising the achievements of his administration.

Political analyst Kabiru Sufi described Kwankwaso’s directive as a calculated long-term strategy rather than a sign of weakness.

According to Sufi, allowing supporters to temporarily align with the governor gives the movement flexibility while preserving its core strength ahead of the 2027 elections.

“Even if more people appear to follow the governor, observers will see it as a tactical move rather than a loss of support. It allows Kwankwaso to maintain influence while giving his followers room to navigate political pressure,” he said.

Meanwhile, the Kano State chapter of the APC says it has concluded preparations to receive Governor Yusuf and other political actors and is only awaiting a date from the Presidency.

The party’s state secretary, Ibrahim Zakari Sarina, said the issue was discussed at a recent APC stakeholders’ meeting, which also reviewed progress on the ongoing electronic membership registration exercise.

According to Sarina, the party has no objection to the governor’s planned defection and is optimistic about the political advantage it would bring.

“All arrangements have been concluded. We are only waiting for the Presidency to fix a date,” he said.

Sarina added that the APC’s primary objective remains electoral success, stressing that any development that strengthens the party is welcome.

Commenting on Kwankwaso’s position, he said the APC would not compel him to join the party, adding that while he would be welcomed if he chose to defect, the party would not tolerate internal crises.

With the APC in control at the federal level, Sarina said Kwankwaso would have limited capacity to destabilise the political environment in Kano State.

Former Governor of Enugu State, Barr. Sullivan Chime, has endorsed President Bola Tinubu for a second term in 2027, aligning himself with the recent adoption of the President by South East governors, APC leaders and stakeholders in the region.

Chime said he was fully involved in the endorsement from the outset and expressed confidence that Tinubu and the All Progressives Congress would record a decisive victory in the South East in the next general election.

He spoke on Tuesday in Udi during the flag-off of the APC electronic membership registration exercise in Enugu West Senatorial District, where he described President Tinubu’s performance as commendable, given prevailing global and regional economic realities.

“I am from the South East, so it goes without saying that I was part of the endorsement. It was a collective decision and we stand by it. I have no doubt that it is achievable,” Chime said.

According to him, the challenges currently facing Nigeria are not peculiar to the country alone but reflect broader global and African economic pressures.

“The President has done well. Considering what is happening globally and across Africa, he is doing well under the circumstances,” he stated.

The former governor said he would speak more extensively on the 2027 elections when the campaign season officially begins.

“With elections approaching next year, there will be time to talk. When campaigns start, we will engage fully,” he added.

Chime also expressed satisfaction with the growing acceptance of the APC in the South East, particularly in Enugu State, noting that his decision to leave the Peoples Democratic Party after the 2015 elections had been vindicated.

He said APC leaders in the state were determined to exceed the two-million membership target set for them in the ongoing electronic registration exercise by Governor Peter Mbah, the party’s leader in Enugu State.

“We are here to appreciate our people. You can see the enthusiasm. APC is now the dominant political party in Enugu State,” he said.

“Ten years ago, when I joined the APC, we already saw where things were headed. PDP was on the decline, and today it is clear that APC remains the viable option. Exceeding the two-million membership mark in Enugu is achievable and we will go beyond it,” he added.

Chime described the renewed energy within the party as encouraging, insisting that those still hesitant would eventually come to terms with political realities.

Meanwhile, chairmen of Udi, Aninri, Awgu, Ezeagu and Oji River local government areas pledged to mobilise aggressively at the grassroots to ensure the registration of over two million APC members across the state.

Speaking on behalf of the council chairmen, the Chairman of Udi LGA, Hon. Hyginus Agu, praised Governor Peter Mbah’s performance, saying his developmental projects across wards had strengthened public support for the APC.

“Our governor has performed exceptionally well. There are visible projects in every ward, and the people are happy. For many of them, Governor Mbah represents their political party.

He has chosen the APC, and the people stand firmly with him and President Tinubu,” Agu said.

It will be recalled that Governors Peter Mbah of Enugu, Hope Uzodimma of Imo and Francis Nwifuru of Ebonyi, alongside other APC leaders and stakeholders in the South East, at the weekend unanimously adopted President Tinubu as their sole presidential candidate for the 2027 election.