The leadership crisis rocking the Labour Party (LP) took a new turn as the Acting National Chairman, Senator Nenadi Usman, strongly disassociated the party from a purported 48-hour ultimatum issued to its 2023 presidential candidate, Mr. Peter Obi.
The ultimatum, allegedly issued by the embattled former National Chairman, Julius Abure, and his loyalists within the sacked National Working Committee (NWC), called on Obi to resign from the party over his involvement in coalition talks with other political figures. However, the Labour Party leadership has now dismissed the ultimatum as baseless and unauthorized.
Speaking through her Senior Special Adviser, Ken Asogwa, Senator Usman described Abure and his allies as “political jesters” with no legal or political standing in the party. She emphasized that the Supreme Court of Nigeria had already sacked them and that they remain suspended from the Labour Party due to consistent acts of indiscipline and anti-party conduct.
Labour Party Endorses Obi’s Role in Coalition Talks
The party reaffirmed its full support for Mr. Peter Obi’s participation in the recent coalition talks aimed at creating a credible political alternative to challenge the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in the 2027 general elections.
Obi had joined other notable political leaders, including former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, ex-Senate President David Mark, former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai, and ex-Transport Minister Rotimi Amaechi, in Abuja to unveil a rebirth of the African Democratic Congress (ADC).
“As declared publicly on May 26, 2025, the Labour Party leadership fully endorses Mr. Obi’s involvement in building a robust coalition to rescue Nigeria from the ongoing misrule of the APC,” Asogwa reiterated.
Disregard Distractions from Discredited Faction — LP Warns
The statement further urged Nigerians and the media to ignore statements or directives from Julius Abure’s faction, which the party insists has been legally and politically discredited.
“It is the remnants of the chaos left by these impostors that the current leadership under Senator Nenadi Usman is working hard to clean up,” the statement said. “The only legitimate source of Labour Party’s official position remains the office of the Acting National Chairman, Senator Usman.”
Background on the Ultimatum
Earlier in the week, former National Publicity Secretary Obiora Ifoh claimed that Peter Obi was given a 48-hour deadline to resign from the Labour Party for allegedly working with individuals described as “power mongers” during the coalition meeting. However, the main party leadership has firmly dismissed the statement as false and politically motivated.
