Labour Party Crisis Deepens: Officials Accuse Peter Obi, Governor Alex Otti of Attempted Power Grab

Tensions within Nigeria’s Labour Party (LP) have escalated sharply following accusations by top party officials that Abia State Governor Alex Otti and the party’s 2023 presidential candidate, Peter Obi, are attempting to hijack the party’s structure for personal political gain.

In a strongly worded statement released on Thursday in Kaduna, the LP’s National Secretary, Umar Farouk Ibrahim, condemned what he described as an “illegal” National Executive Council (NEC) meeting convened in Abuja by Obi and Otti. The gathering, he said, amounted to a breach of the party’s internal protocols and a dangerous attempt to exert undue influence on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

“A Covert Coup Against Party Structure”

According to Ibrahim, the Wednesday meeting in Abuja was not only unauthorized but also part of a broader scheme to seize control of the party’s leadership. He accused Obi and Otti of desperation, saying their visit to INEC headquarters shortly after the meeting was an attempt to pressure the electoral body into recognizing their faction of the party.

“Their mission demonstrates the high level of desperation to seize control of the party’s structure. If the Supreme Court ruling truly supports them, why the rush to INEC to exert undue influence?” Ibrahim queried.

The party scribe also revealed that Obi and Otti had offered a “soft landing” to the embattled National Chairman, Julius Abure, proposing to move him to a ceremonial role as Chairman of the Board of Trustees. However, Ibrahim dismissed this offer as political patronage and an attempt to sideline democratic processes.

“It is not about personalities; it is about the supremacy of party organs and adherence to due process,” he stated. “Such arbitrary behaviour by leaders is partly responsible for the state of governance in the country.”

Allegations of Intimidation and Force

Going further, Ibrahim claimed that the Abuja meeting was not just procedural but included “threats and plans” to reclaim the party’s leadership by any means, including force.

He invoked the stance of Comrade Joe Ajaero, a labour union leader who had earlier expressed intentions to picket LP offices nationwide over what he described as leadership anomalies, reinforcing the growing divide within the party.

“Our immediate response to Obi, Otti and other renegades is that their plans amount to self-help. If the court ruling is in their favour, there are legal means to enforce it. Intimidation and threats will not yield positive outcomes,” Ibrahim warned.

Legal Grounds and Party Constitution

Citing a Supreme Court ruling, Ibrahim stressed that only the National Secretary, in consultation with the National Chairman, has the legal authority to convene a NEC meeting. Any deviation from this, he argued, is in violation of the party’s constitution and judicial precedent.

The statement underscores the fragility of internal unity within the Labour Party, which gained significant momentum during the 2023 elections but now appears mired in factional power struggles. The party’s growing influence seems to have intensified internal competition, particularly among its highest-profile members.

What’s Next?

As the party leadership dispute deepens, all eyes will be on INEC and the courts to determine which faction has legitimate claim to the Labour Party’s command structure. Meanwhile, concerns are mounting that the ongoing crisis could derail the LP’s rising political profile and alienate the party’s growing base of supporters across the country.

With both sides digging in and no immediate resolution in sight, the Labour Party may be heading toward a full-blown leadership war that could have serious implications ahead of upcoming elections.