The Labour Party has issued one of its most explosive and emotionally charged statements since the aftermath of the 2023 general election, openly declaring that it feels liberated by the defection of its former presidential candidate, Peter Obi, to the African Democratic Congress (ADC).
In a statement signed by the party’s National Publicity Secretary, Obiora Ifoh, and dated December 31, 2025, the Labour Party not only confirmed the end of its political relationship with Obi but also took the extraordinary step of apologising to Nigerians for presenting him as its presidential flagbearer in 2023.
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According to the party leadership, Obi’s exit did not come as a surprise. The statement revealed that the Labour Party had effectively parted ways with the former Anambra State governor as far back as September 2024, following prolonged internal disputes that allegedly crippled the party’s leadership structure.
The party said it had patiently waited for Obi and his loyalists to formally leave, describing his eventual defection as a blessing rather than a loss.
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The Labour Party leadership also dismissed Obi’s speech at the Enugu rally where he announced his move to ADC, describing it as uninspiring and lacking any fresh ideas for Nigerians. The statement questioned what new vision Obi intends to offer, insisting that his political relevance has waned significantly since the 2023 election.
In a sharp rebuke, the party accused Obi and Abia State Governor Alex Otti of orchestrating what it described as an insurrection against the Julius Abure-led national leadership. The statement alleged that both men sponsored internal rebellion within the party, particularly among lawmakers in the National Assembly.
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The Labour Party disclosed that several legislators were suspended for anti-party activities and revealed that similar disciplinary action was being considered against Obi before intervention from unnamed well-meaning Nigerians halted the move.
While Obi has now left the party, the Labour Party expressed surprise that Governor Otti remains, despite his suspension. The leadership openly urged the Abia governor to follow what it described as his political leader out of the party, insisting it was still not too late for him to do so.
Turning attention to Obi’s ADC unveiling in Enugu, the party dismissed the event as a political charade, claiming it was largely boycotted by influential political and traditional institutions in the South East. According to the statement, those in attendance were described as spent political forces who lack grassroots relevance and would struggle to win elections even at ward level.
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The party went further to argue that Obi’s ambition for either the presidency or vice presidency is already a failed project, insisting he has lost the political charm that once resonated with Nigerians before the 2023 elections.
In one of the most politically sensitive sections of the statement, the Labour Party accused Obi of misleading the South East electorate in 2023, arguing that the region paid a heavy price for placing its trust in him. The party pointed to what it described as the marginalisation of the South East under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration, particularly in ministerial appointments and infrastructure allocation.
According to the statement, while some states reportedly secured up to five ministerial slots, the entire Southeast region received only five ministers combined. The Labour Party warned that repeating such political calculations could amount to another self-inflicted setback for the zone.
In a rare admission of political failure, the Labour Party leadership apologised to Nigerians, describing its decision to field Obi in 2023 as the greatest political mistake in the party’s history. The statement pleaded for forgiveness and promised that lessons have been learnt.
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The party concluded by urging Nigerians to keep faith with the Party, revealing that internal efforts are already underway to identify new political prospects capable of restoring Nigeria to what it described as its glorious days
The statement marks a dramatic escalation in the war of words between the Labour Party and its former standard bearer, setting the stage for a potentially fierce realignment of opposition politics ahead of future elections.
