By Eshiorameh Sebastian and James Adamu, Abuja
Asks members to disregard ex-party’s presidential candidate
Insists on election eligibility amid INEC rift
The Labour Party’s leadership has sharply criticised their former presidential candidate, Peter Obi, in remarkably personal terms, after he threw his support behind the African Democratic Congress (ADC) in the August 16 nationwide bye elections.
The party National Chairman, Julius Abure, didn’t mince words, branding Obi an “Uber politician” who changes positions like a taxi switching routes – a pointed dig at his decision to back rival candidates in the ADC instead of Labour Party candidates.
The extraordinary broadside came just hours after Obi had urged his supporters to abandon Labour at the ballot box, claiming the party’s candidates weren’t properly registered.
Spear News reports that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) had on 3rd of August invalidated the list of all the candidates submitted by the Labour Party faction, as well as all the candidates of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) for the nationwide by-elections scheduled for August 16, 2025, and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) council elections.
However, in a swift response, the party’s leadership warned the commission that any attempt to exclude its candidates from the 16 August bye-election could lead to legal nullification of the poll.
In a statement issued on 12 August, the party’s national publicity secretary Obiora Ifoh demanded the Independent National Electoral Commission publish its candidates’ names and ensure its logo appears on ballots, citing violations of electoral law.
In the latest development, Abure in a statement issued on Thursday August 14, accused Obi of political inconsistency, saying he had “turned himself into an irony and a paradox in the Nigerian political space” and was “not willing to take a position and stand by his decision.”
However, the party has urged its members to disregard the former party standard-bearer’s directives regarding the August 16 polls. “The party is calling on all our faithful party members to ignore this malicious directive,” the statement read, referring to Obi’s call for supporters to vote for ADC candidates instead of Labour Party nominees.
Abure emphasised that Obi no longer speaks for the party, stating his advice was “misleading, mischievous and delusional.”
Amid an ongoing dispute with the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) Labour Party has insisted their candidates remain eligible for the upcoming contests.
“What Obi does not know is that Labour Party is on the ballot,” the statement asserted, adding that the party had “done everything within the law to ensure that our candidates participate in the bye-election.” This declaration comes despite claims from Obi’s camp that INEC has not recognized Labour Party candidates due to internal party disputes.
The bitter public feud represents a dramatic breakdown in relations between Obi and the party he led during the 2023 presidential election, when his candidacy garnered six million votes and established Labour as Nigeria’s third major political force. The conflict stems from September 2024 when Obi and Abia State Governor Alex Otti convened what Labour now describes as an “ill-fated and illegal expanded stakeholders meeting” in Umuahia. Party leadership claims this gathering marked the beginning of ongoing internal crises that have plagued the organization.
Labour’s statement contained unusually personal criticism of Obi, suggesting he had “booked a place for himself in the Guinness book of records as a person affiliated to many political parties pari pasu,” referencing his previous involvement with PDP and APGA before joining Labour.
The statement went further, stating bluntly that Obi “lacks the competence, character and capacity to actualise the vision of a new Nigeria” – a remarkable turnaround for the man who had been the party’s most visible and popular figure.
The statement accused Obi of hypocrisy, noting that while he now cites party crises as reason to avoid supporting Labour candidates, he was instrumental in creating those same problems.
“He has now been crying wolf where there is none,” the document stated, adding that Obi had “co-funded the crisis all these while” and even “went as far as leading a protest match to INEC headquarters against his own party.” These allegations strike at the heart of Obi’s carefully cultivated image as a principled reformer.
Peter Obi on Thursday in a statement on his X (formerly Twitter) account on emphasised what he described as the practical realities before the party, with his statement noting that “the Labour Party has no recognised candidates by INEC due to the internal crisis.” His call for supporters to instead back ADC candidates was framed as a pragmatic solution, concluding with the rallying cry: “The struggle for Nigeria has started.” This formulation has since been widely circulated among his supporters, known as the Obidient movement.
Read his full statement: 2025 Bye-Elections
“On the 16th of August 2025. Nigerians will go to the polling units again for the Bye-Elections.
This is expected to take place in the 16 States of the Federation with 2 Senatorial, 5 Federal House of Representatives and 9 State Assembly seats available for voting.
Kindly note that because the Labour Party has no recognised candidates by INEC due to the internal crisis, I humbly urge every member of Obidient and COPDEM families to go out and vote for the coalition political party, African Democratic Congress (ADC), in their respective states.
The struggle for Nigeria has started. Thank you. -PO
The electoral commission finds itself caught between the warring factions. While INEC’s official candidate list still excludes Labour Party nominees and the commission has not publicly clarified the status of these nominations amid the leadership dispute, Labour Party has insisted that it will be on the ballot for the election. This ambiguity has created confusion among voters just days before polls open in 16 states to fill two senatorial seats, five federal constituencies and nine state assembly positions.
Political analysts note the confrontation carries significant implications for Nigeria’s opposition politics ahead of the 2027 general elections. The Labour Party, which emerged as a credible alternative to the dominant APC and PDP, now risks seeing its support base fracture between loyalists and those who continue to follow Obi’s direction. The ADC, traditionally a minor party, stands to benefit from this division, potentially reshaping Nigeria’s political landscape.
Constitutional experts highlight that the dispute ultimately hinges on competing interpretations of Nigeria’s Electoral Act and the powers of political parties versus individual candidates. The Labour Party statement referenced legal protections, noting “the law has provided adequate remedies for any act or omission by the commission that has shortchanged the political party.” This suggests potential post-election litigation regardless of outcomes.
On the ground, reports indicate confusion among voters who had identified with the Obidient movement but now face conflicting instructions from their former standard-bearer and the party structure. In Lagos and Anambra, where Labour had performed strongly in 2023, campaign activities have been muted compared to previous elections, with some candidates distancing themselves from the national leadership dispute while others have doubled down on their party affiliation.
The acrimony represents a significant challenge for third-force politics in Nigeria, which has historically struggled to maintain unity beyond individual election cycles. As the August 16 polls approach, what began as routine bye-elections have transformed into a high-stakes test of whether issue-based politics can survive personality conflicts in Nigeria’s contentious political environment. The outcome may determine whether Labour can rebuild as an institution or becomes another cautionary tale in Nigeria’s political history.
Both sides appear entrenched in their positions, with Labour’s leadership vowing to protect the party’s reputation, stating: “A political party is expected to guard its image and reputation jealously and Labour Party will not take any conduct by any agency or regulatory body intended to rubbish its reputation lightly.” Meanwhile, Obi’s supporters continue to frame their approach as part of a broader movement for change, regardless of party labels.
Discussion about this post