Former presidential aspirant of the Labour Party (LP), Faduri Oluwadare Joseph, has alleged that his 2022 presidential ambition was deliberately sabotaged by top figures within the party to pave the way for Peter Obi’s emergence as flagbearer.

Faduri, who leads the Rescue Movement for a New Nigeria, expressed his disappointment in a statement shared with journalists.

He also announced his intention to run again for president in 2027, urging a generational transition in Nigeria’s leadership.

He accused LP leaders including Barrister Julius Abure, Alhaji Lamidi Apapa, and Dr Abayomi Arabambi of orchestrating his removal from the presidential race just days before the primary election held in Asaba.

“What is happening in the Labour Party today is nothing short of poetic justice, a karma unfolding before the very eyes of the nation.”

“It is the consequence of the injustice, betrayal and deceit done to me and my team in 2022, when some leaders of the party connived to rob me of the presidential ticket, a ticket we laboured tirelessly to build, and handed it over to Mr Peter Obi,” he said.

Faduri emphasized the effort he and his team invested to revive the Labour Party when it was still seen as politically irrelevant.

“In 2022, LP was a dead structure, no plan, no preparation, no hope. I reached out to its national leaders. I rallied my team, invested resources and reawakened the sleeping giant,” he recalled.

Despite the betrayal, he said he chose not to pursue legal redress for the sake of national stability.

“I could have blocked the Labour Party from appearing on the ballot, and I had every legal and strategic right to do so, but I refused. I chose patriotism over personal interest,” he said.

Tracing his political journey, Faduri said he originally worked to restore life to the New Nigerian Peoples Party (NNPP), but claimed that party was later taken over by Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso.

“We then began scouting for a new platform, and that was how we came to the Labour Party,” he said.

He blamed the current divisions and instability within LP on the events of 2022.

“After I was unjustly removed, the peace and unity we had built collapsed. The party has not known true peace since,” he stated.

Faduri also questioned the moral legitimacy of Obi’s candidacy.

“The candidacy of Peter Obi was built on injustice. No matter how loud the noise or how vast the donations, the foundation was flawed. And just as they cheated me, the system cheated them in return,” he argued.

He described himself as a political underdog who could have triumphed if not betrayed by party elites.

“I was the David of that election. I could have defeated any Goliath, but was betrayed by leaders blinded by greed,” he said.

Faduri did not hold back in his critique of the current LP leadership.

“The current Labour Party leadership cannot deliver the Nigeria we seek. They are transactional politicians, driven by money and self-interest,” he asserted.

While still identifying as a Labour Party member, he noted that he is exploring other platforms ahead of the 2027 election.

“I will run again for the presidency of Nigeria in 2027. Because what we have today is not a nation, but a jungle. It is time for a generational shift,” he declared.

He concluded by calling for older political figures to step aside for fresh leadership.

“From President Tinubu to Atiku Abubakar to Peter Obi, they’ve all had their time. It is time for them to step aside. It is time for a leader who is young, vibrant, intelligent, untainted by the system and ready to take Nigeria to its promised land,” he said.

The All Progressives Congress (APC) is set to conduct its primary elections today, May 10, 2025, at the State Secretariat on Acme Road, Ikeja, ahead of the Lagos local government elections scheduled for July 12.

According to the Lagos State Independent Electoral Commission (LASIEC), the July polls will elect chairmen and councilors across the 20 Local Government Areas (LGAs) and 37 Local Council Development Areas (LCDAs). In total, 377 councilors will be chosen from the state’s 377 wards.

Following the screening process, the APC Electoral Committee approved 432 chairmanship aspirants from the 470 that submitted nomination forms.

The primaries will determine candidates for both chairmanship and councillorship seats across all 57 councils.

To ensure a peaceful process, the party has opted to pursue consensus arrangements among leaders, aspirants, and members.

“The party stated that adopting consensus lists for both the councillor and chairman seats would ensure a rancor-free primary exercise and sustain the existing unity among members of Lagos APC.”

Highlighting the sheer number of contenders, APC leaders noted, “We have 57 councils, but the number of aspirants is over 400, and all of them can’t seat in office.”

Chairman of the Electoral Committee, Babatunde Ogala, SAN, assured stakeholders that the party is fully prepared for the exercise.

Ogala said, “The constitution recognizes direct, indirect, and consensus primaries, but for this council primary, we are adopting indirect primaries. The electoral body, which are the delegates, have been constituted.”

He added, “For chairmanship, the designated venue is the party Secretariat in Ogba, where all aspirants will converge. The aspirants are expected to come with only one agent.”

Ogala also disclosed that 38 chairmanship aspirants had either been disqualified or voluntarily withdrawn from the race.

At a recent stakeholders’ forum, top APC leaders, including the Chairman of the Governor’s Advisory Council (GAC), Tajudeen Olusi, Deputy Governor Dr. Obafemi Hamzat, Speaker of the House of Assembly Mudasiru Obasa, Senator Oluranti Adebule, and former Deputy Governor Olufemi Pedro, urged aspirants and supporters to maintain peace.

In his remarks, Olusi called for cooperation and unity: “We are here to advise you. Since the early days of democracy, primaries have always been through consensus. With patience and support, there will be a way out. That is why wisdom is applied in politics.”

Meanwhile, Seye Oladejo, the APC Lagos chapter’s Publicity Secretary, told our correspondent on Friday that security would be tight around the venue to ensure the exercise goes smoothly and without disruption.