The Labour Party (LP) has stated that its 2023 presidential flagbearer, Peter Obi, appears uncertain about his political direction ahead of the 2027 elections.

In a statement issued on Monday, the party’s National Chairman, Julius Abure, through the National Publicity Secretary, Obiorah Ifoh, clarified that recent reports suggesting the LP celebrated Obi’s declaration to recontest on its platform were misleading and inaccurate.

“The leadership of the Labour Party (LP) has said that its presidential candidate in the 2023 elections, Peter Obi, is confused about his intentions ahead of the 2027 polls,” the statement read.

Obi, while addressing young supporters in a video shared on the party’s WhatsApp platform over the weekend, declared: “I will still continue to run in the Labour Party. I’m a member of the Labour Party.”

However, the party insists that the narrative of celebrating Obi’s decision is far from reality.

“The impression conveyed by the news on celebrating Obi’s declaration was erroneous, inaccurate and did not in any way reflect the position and mood in the party,” Ifoh said.

He stressed that while the LP does not oppose any member running in 2027, the process must follow internal rules.

“First, while we are not opposed to anybody running under the platform of the Labour Party in the 2027 general elections, we need to make it categorically clear that the party has a long standing rule on how its candidates shall emerge and automatic ticket is not one of the routes.”

Referring to past decisions, Ifoh added: “Recall that at the party’s National Convention in 2024, the party had erroneously granted automatic tickets to our former presidential candidate and the only governor of the party.

However, that decision has since been rescinded and reversed after consulting the statute books.”

The party also questioned Obi’s simultaneous involvement in a pro-coalition group.

“Second, His Excellency, Peter Obi, hours after he spoke of his intention to run under the Labour Party, was on Sunday seen in a meeting of a pro-coalition group in Abuja without the permission and consent of the Labour Party leadership.”

“This to us is really confusing and we think that Peter Obi has not come to terms with his intentions for the 2027 presidential race,” Ifoh remarked.

He reaffirmed that the Labour Party will not align with any coalition, saying, “Labour Party would not go into any coalition or merger of any sort ahead of 2027 general elections,” and described Obi’s association with such efforts as “distasteful” and “unacceptable.”

“It is also an affront to the party leadership and we view his position as a total disregard to the party’s right to make decision bidding its affairs,” Ifoh continued.

Concluding the statement, he declared, “We are therefore by this statement letting Nigerians know that the presidency for 2027 is open to anyone who wants to run under the platform of the party.”

The Enugu State House of Representatives Caucus has commended Governor Peter Ndubuisi Mbah for his impressive performance over the past two years, describing his development strides as transformative.

In a midterm assessment statement issued on Sunday by the Caucus leader, Hon. Nnolim Nnaji, the federal lawmakers highlighted Mbah’s achievements in key sectors including road infrastructure, security, revitalisation of dormant state-owned enterprises, and completion of previously abandoned projects.

The Caucus expressed admiration for the governor’s efforts, particularly his commitment to agricultural development and education, noting that these investments are crucial to boosting the economy and creating job opportunities.

“We are further satisfied that the state government’s programmes and projects, be they in education, agricultural investments, and road infrastructure, health sector, among others, are being evenly spread across the 260 wards in the state in line with the governor’s inclusive development model,” the statement read.

Citing specific ongoing initiatives, the Caucus pointed to the wide-reaching infrastructure projects taking shape across Enugu.

“The ongoing construction of 260 Smart Green Schools, 260 Type 2 Primary Healthcare Centres, the 260 Farm Estates, transport infrastructure, roads, tourism infrastructure, and numerous other foundations being speedily laid are clear signs that the governor’s promise to grow the state’s economy from $4.5 billion to $30 billion in eight years are realisable.”

The lawmakers also hailed the Mbah administration for prioritising both local and foreign investments, crediting the improved security and infrastructure as major enablers for business growth in the state.

“We equally commend the governor’s drive for local investment and foreign direct investment, which are yielding good results because of the security and infrastructure that have been put in place to make Enugu safe and conducive for business,” they said.

They further praised the urban transformation taking place in the capital, noting the extensive construction activity underway throughout the city.

The Caucus acknowledged “an ambitious and aggressive programme of urban renewal across all the zones of Enugu metropolis, which have turned the entire Enugu metropolis into one massive construction site.”

The lawmakers urged Enugu residents to continue supporting Governor Mbah as he advances his developmental vision for the state.

The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Abbas Tajudeen, has officially withdrawn the bill proposing to amend the Electoral Act 2022 to make voting mandatory for all eligible Nigerian citizens.

This update was revealed in a statement signed by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Musa Krishi, and shared with Channels Television on Monday.

Tajudeen explained that the decision followed thorough consultations with various stakeholders.

He noted that the bill, which he co-sponsored with Daniel Ago, the representative for Bassa/Jos North Federal Constituency, was introduced “with the best of intentions.”

He emphasized, “from the outset, the bill was introduced with the best of intentions, which is to bolster civic engagement and strengthen our democracy by encouraging higher voter turnout.”

Highlighting international examples, Tajudeen pointed out “Compulsory voting has long been practised with notable success in countries such as Australia, Belgium, and Brazil, where it has helped sustain participation rates above 90 per cent, while nations like Argentina and Singapore have also implemented similar measures to foster inclusivity at the ballot box.”

Despite these examples, Tajudeen expressed his preference for encouraging voluntary participation rather than compulsion:

“Nevertheless, the Speaker acknowledges that lawmaking is ultimately about the people it serves and that any reform must respect individual freedoms and public sentiment. Rather than compel participation, he is committed to exploring positive incentives and innovative approaches that will make voting more attractive and accessible to all Nigerians.”

“This withdrawal will allow time for further dialogue on how best to cultivate a culture of voluntary participation that honours both our democratic ideals and the rights of our citizens.”

The bill had already passed the second reading before its withdrawal.

It faced criticism from Nigerians who deemed it unconstitutional. Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Olisa Agbakoba, voiced strong opposition during an appearance on Channels Television’s Politics Today, saying “Look at the ridiculous one in the National Assembly about voting being compulsory.”

“If that bill were to pass, I would say, ‘Agbakoba, we will not obey it.’ I’ll plead conscientious objection. I’d rather go to prison for six months than obey it.”

He further questioned the rationale behind the bill.

“Why would the National Assembly want to impose compulsory voting? Why don’t they reverse the question and say, Why are Nigerians not interested? What is the apathy about?”

Human rights lawyer and Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Femi Falana, also criticized the bill’s compatibility with constitutional rights.

In a statement titled ‘Compulsory Voting is Not Enough’ issued on May 19, 2025, Falana wrote:
“The said constitutional provisions protect the fundamental rights of the Nigerian people to privacy, freedom of thought and conscience, as well as the freedom to register and vote in national and state elections conducted in Nigeria.”

“However, it is doubtful whether the Speaker and his colleagues have paid sufficient attention to the relevant provisions of the Constitution.”

“Otherwise, they would have realised that the compulsory voting is constitutionally invalid in every material particular on the ground that it is inconsistent with Sections 37, 38, 77(2), 135(5), and 178(5) of the Constitution.”

Officials from the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) have sealed off Wadata Plaza, the building that houses the National Secretariat of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Abuja, due to unpaid ground and tenancy rent.

The action affected other structures as well, including offices of the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) and the Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP).

Lere Olayinka, Senior Special Assistant on Public Communications and Social Media to the FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, disclosed on his Facebook page that the plaza owes N7,603,504.31 in ground rent accumulated over 28 years.

He wrote “On Wadata Plaza being used as PDP National Secretariat, N7,603,504.31 is being owed as 28 years’ Ground Rent.”

The sealing of the PDP secretariat forced the party to relocate its caucus meeting to a different venue.

The FCT administration also sealed other buildings on Monday, including a commercial bank complex, the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS), and NAPTIP offices located in Wuse Zone 5, Abuja.

At the FIRS premises, tensions flared between FCTA officials and the agency’s security guards and staff, who initially resisted the sealing.

Eventually, the FCTA officials were allowed access and proceeded with the closure.

Olayinka further revealed that FIRS has failed to pay ground rent for 25 years.

This enforcement comes months after the FCTA lamented losing over N6 billion in revenue due to non-compliance by property owners who have not paid ground rents for more than a decade.

In a statement last week, the FCTA—through Olayinka and the Director of the Department of Development Control, Mukhtar Galadima, announced the revocation of 4,794 properties over unpaid ground rent ranging from 10 to 43 years.

The statement read “Ownership of the revoked 4,794 properties in the Central Area, Garki I and II, Wuse I and II, Asokoro, Maitama and Guzape districts, had already reverted to the FCTA, and as from Monday, next week, the government will begin to exercise its rights of ownership on the affected landed properties.”

It added “As usual, this will be done without consideration as to ownership of the affected landed properties. It will be purely in line with extant laws and regulations guiding the process.”

According to the FCTA, these buildings now legally belong to the administration.