The Labour Party (LP) has denied participation in any opposition summit in Ibadan, with a senior party official insisting that the organisation’s full attention is on its upcoming National Convention and internal strengthening for the 2027 elections.
Dr. Philip Agbese, Deputy Spokesperson of the House of Representatives and Chairman of the Media Sub-Committee of the Labour Party National Convention Planning Committee, made the party’s position known during a brief interaction with journalists at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport.
Reports had emerged suggesting that several opposition parties, including the African Democratic Congress (ADC), the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), and the New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP), met in Ibadan to explore a possible coalition and the prospect of fielding a single presidential candidate in 2027.
But Agbese firmly ruled out Labour Party involvement in such discussions at this stage.”We were not in Ibadan for any summit. As a party, we are focused on our National Convention coming up on April 28, and on strengthening our internal processes ahead of the 2027 general elections,” he said.”Our attention is on putting our house in order.
The convention is a critical step in that process, and it is part of a broader effort to strengthen the party ahead of 2027,” Agbese added.
The lawmaker stressed that internal cohesion and organisational stability must come first before any external political engagements are considered.”We believe that before you talk about external alignments or engagements, you must first build a solid and united structure within your party.
That is what we are doing,” he said.”At this moment, we are not distracted by any summit or coalition talks.
Our focus is clear; prepare for our National Convention, strengthen our internal systems, and position the party effectively for the 2027 elections,” Agbese further stated.His remarks came amid growing political realignments among opposition parties ahead of the next election cycle.
However, the Labour Party’s position signals a deliberate strategy focused on internal consolidation before any broader coalition discussions.
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