The Labour Party (LP) has confirmed that Peter Obi will be its presidential candidate for the 2027 general election while dismissing criticisms from the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) as baseless and a sign of defeat.
Speaking through a statement on Wednesday evening, LP’s National Publicity Secretary, Dr. Abayomi Arabambi, accused the NLC leadership of attempting to destabilize the party for selfish interests. He alleged that NLC President Joe Ajaero and Deputy President Prof. Theophilus Ndubuaku worked against LP candidates in the 2023 governorship elections, supporting the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in Lagos, Imo, Nasarawa, Cross River, and Ogun, while backing the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in Oyo, Enugu, Rivers, and Plateau states.
“Our major focus is getting the All Progressives Congress (APC) out of office only through the ballot if Nigerians so desire and not through illegitimate means,” Arabambi stated. “Peter Obi will fly our party flag for the next presidential election in 2027, Governor Alex Otti will be our candidate in Abia, and Gbadebo Rhodes-Vivour will represent the Labour Party in Lagos.”
Arabambi criticized the NLC for abandoning its core duty of advocating for workers’ rights and instead engaging in what he described as a smear campaign against LP National Chairman Julius Abure. He accused Ajaero and Ndubuaku of persecuting Abure because he refused to support their “military-like dictatorship” in NLC affairs.
“It is both shameful and irresponsible that the same individuals who stood with Abure and mobilized thugs to attack the Lamidi Apapa-led faction in 2023 are now persecuting him,” Arabambi said.
The LP spokesperson also dismissed allegations against Abure regarding past police investigations, stating that the cases had been resolved and lacked merit. He challenged the NLC leaders to present any valid documents proving wrongdoing.
“The Court of Appeal, in its rulings of November 13, 2024, and January 2025, affirmed the legitimacy of the Nnewi Convention, which produced Julius Abure and Farouk Umar Ibrahim as National Chairman and National Secretary of the Labour Party,” he emphasized. “Only the Supreme Court, not public opinion or the shenanigans of the NLC, can overturn that judgment.”
Arabambi further alleged that the NLC had previously attempted to disrupt the country by calling for civil unrest and shutting down the national grid. He urged security agencies to remain vigilant against what he called anti-democratic forces.
“The Labour Party stands firm against any unconstitutional convergence of political scavengers and economic predators,” he declared.
The LP leadership concluded that accusations of being sponsored by the APC were baseless and the product of frustration from those who lost their legal battle against Abure’s leadership.
“They are grieving over their defeat at the Court of Appeal,” Arabambi said.
