..Obi in talks with SDP, says presidential candidate
The Labour Party (LP) faces a defining moment today as rival factions gear up for a potentially explosive confrontation at its national secretariat in Abuja.
The news is coming at a time when strong rumours suggest Peter Obi, the Labour Party’s former presidential candidate, is actively considering a defection to the Social Democratic Party.
The battle lines are drawn between three powerful blocs: the Julius Abure-led leadership, the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), and a breakaway faction supported by Peter Obi and Abia State Governor Alex Otti, each vying for control of the opposition party in what could become a watershed moment for Nigerian politics.
Tensions reached fever pitch late Sunday when the LP’s current leadership by Julius Abure issued an urgent alert, alleging the NLC and a dissident group led by former Senator Nenadi Usman were preparing to storm the party headquarters in what they termed an “illegal takeover attempt.”
National Secretary Umar Farouk Ibrahim’s statement painted a dramatic picture of the NLC mobilising “hired thugs” to forcibly occupy the secretariat, with alleged financial backing from the Abia State government.
The Abure faction maintains such action would violate both party statutes and Nigerian law, particularly provisions prohibiting the NLC, as a trade union from direct political involvement. They cited last Friday’s Supreme Court ruling affirming that internal party mechanisms must resolve leadership disputes as bolstering their position.
“It has come to the knowledge of the leadership of the Labour Party that the Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC is mobilizing its members, hired thugs and some miscreants in concert with the illegal Nenadi Usman led National Caretaker Committee (NCC), and the National Transition Committee (NTC) to invade the National Secretariat of our party.
“According to the source, the invasion which is allegedly funded by the Abia state government and one other prominent leader in the party is expected to commence as from Monday 7th of April 2025.
“During the invasion, the NLC will attempt an unlawful break and entry into offices at the national headquarters with the aim of carting away sensitive documents and to also vandalise the properties belonging to the party”, the statement read.
It continues: “It must be noted that the judgement of the Supreme Court delivered on the 5th of April, 2025 is very clear and unambiguous. The judgement simply mandates political parties to always resolve their crisis using internal mechanism, and that the issue of leadership is an internal affairs of the political parties. There is no where in the judgement that gave NLC, National Caretaker Committee or any other body by whatever nomenclature to take over the leadership of the Labour Party
“There is a leadership in place in the Labour Party and Barrister Julius Abure who was validly elected at a convention held in March 2024 still remains the National Chairman of the Labour Party. Any attempt to forcefully usurp the present leadership will be resisted.
“We are by this statement calling on the attention of the security agencies including the Police, the DSS amongst others to ensure that any activity that is capable of breaching the peace of the FCT must be nipped in the bud and that the masterminds, no matter how high they might be, are apprehended and made to face the full wrath of the law”, they pleaded.
However, the opposing faction presents a starkly different narrative. Former LP National Youth Leader Eragbe Anslem insists recent court rulings have effectively nullified Abure’s leadership, with a National Caretaker Committee (NCC) headed by Senator Nenadi Usman now being the legitimate authority.
This group points to alleged irregularities in Abure’s 2024 re-election and claims his tenure has constitutionally expired. They frame today’s planned action not as a hostile takeover but as a lawful transition of power mandated by judicial pronouncements, while reviving corruption allegations against Abure and calling for his prosecution.
“The Senator Esther Nenadi Usman led National Caretaker Committee CTC shall takeover the Labour Party LP National Secretariat tomorrow 7th April 2025”, said Eragbe.
Security agencies remain on high alert, with the Department of State Services (DSS) and police closely monitoring the situation. The potential for confrontation looms large, as it remains unclear whether authorities will intervene to prevent either faction from accessing the secretariat.
Beyond the immediate power struggle, rumours are rife that Peter Obi is making fresh moves to join the Social Democratic Party.
SDP 2023 presidential candidate, Adewole Adebayo, made the revelation on Sunday that Peter, saying Obi would follow in the footsteps of former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai.
Adebayo made the assertion during an appearance on Channels Television’ Politics Today.
In recent months, Obi’s engagements with former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and other opposition figures have sparked speculation over a potential departure from his party. However, the former Anambra State governor has consistently maintained his allegiance to the Labour Party in various public forums.
Despite Obi’s denials, Adebayo insisted he had credible information confirming Obi’s imminent move to the SDP.
He said, “People are joining my party and we are welcoming them. You can see how active I am in welcoming them. The only little issue we have with some of them is to change the culture where if you have not been in an environment where rules are taken seriously.
“Some of them are doing some Boy Scouts, black market operations, we are dealing with that. But we welcome them into the party.
“All these people you have mentioned, El-Rufai, Atiku Abubakar, even former Governor Peter Obi are coming. A lot of people are coming and we will welcome them.”
When asked to clarify if Obi is indeed joining the SDP, Adebayo hesitated before saying he was reliably informed.
He said, “Supposedly until somebody joins, we don’t know. But people have told me and the Financial Secretary (SDP) has also informed me that they are talking. So we will welcome everybody.
“Surely, when we come in, and we don’t become a tower of Babel; if we come in, follow the rules and allow one person to emerge transparently, clearly, without cheating, without criminality the way we did our convention in 2022, people applauded us transparently, no court case, no crisis, no allegations.
“If they can stick to our culture and follow the way we do in the SDP and produce a good alternative to Nigerians, we are going to manifestly defeat the APC and retire President Tinubu to Lagos or wherever he chooses in Nigeria.”
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