By Rafiyat Sadiq
The Labour Party (LP) has issued a dramatic 48-hour ultimatum to its 2023 presidential candidate, Peter Obi, demanding that he resign his membership, following his reported involvement in a new political coalition.
In a strongly worded statement on Wednesday, the party’s National Publicity Secretary, Obiora Ifoh, disavowed any connection to the emerging coalition, which he described as a reunion of “recycled, desperate, and frustrated politicians”.
He said the Labour Party is not part of the so-called coalition, adding that any of its members who identify with it must, within 48 hours, resign from the party.
Ifoh said, “We have seen the type of people in this coalition; they are the same people who have mismanaged Nigeria for decades. They’re only seeking to relaunch themselves into power. That’s not how to build a new Nigeria.”
He expressed concern that Obi was holding secret meetings with select party members, lobbying them to join the coalition.
According to him, many of those approached have refused to defect.
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“The Labour Party will not tolerate dual loyalty, those who pretend to be with us by day and align with another agenda at night. We will not be deceived,” he warned.
The party reaffirmed its commitment to homegrown political change driven by the Nigerian youth, emphasising that over 70 per cent of the country’s population are young people seeking a break from the old political order.
“These youths will not find their future among the gerontocrats. The Labour Party remains the only genuine platform to achieve a new Nigeria,” he said.
Ifoh called on party members to remain loyal and preserve the party’s structure and ideology as the 2027 general elections draw nearer.
As of the time of filing this report, Peter Obi, who came third in the 2023 presidential election, has not issued any public response to the ultimatum nor confirmed whether he plans to resign from the party.
Rafiyat Sadiq is a political, justice, and human rights reporter with Pinnacle Daily, known for fearless reporting and impactful storytelling. At Pinnacle Daily, she brings clarity and depth to issues shaping governance, democracy, and the protection of citizens’ rights.