Tensions Spike in Labour Party as Abure Issues Ultimatum to Peter Obi over Coalition Involvement

The Labour Party (LP) has plunged deeper into internal crisis following an ultimatum issued by the Julius Abure-led faction of the party, demanding that former presidential candidate Peter Obi resign from the LP within 48 hours.

The move follows Obi’s recent involvement in a coalition with the African Democratic Congress (ADC) and other opposition groups ahead of the 2027 general elections.

In a strongly worded statement released by LP’s National Publicity Secretary, Obiora Ifoh, the Abure faction accused Obi of political infidelity, alleging that he had been holding “nocturnal meetings” with members of the newly formed coalition, which they described as a gathering of “recycled, desperate, and frustrated politicians.”

According to them, Obi’s actions amount to a betrayal of the LP platform that he ran under in 2023, and they insist he must now choose between remaining in Labour or aligning formally with the coalition.

“We are giving Peter Obi 48 hours to resign from the Labour Party,” Ifoh declared, warning that Obi cannot serve two political masters.

Obi, who was unveiled as part of the opposition coalition known as the “Coalition for Nigeria,” had joined forces with several political groups, including the ADC, in an effort to present a united front against the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in the next presidential election.

His inclusion has sparked controversy within Labour Party ranks, especially among Abure loyalists who claim Obi neither informed nor received approval from the party leadership before participating in the initiative.

However, the factional dispute within LP complicates the matter. A rival leadership under Senator Nenadi Usman has dismissed Abure’s ultimatum as illegitimate, labeling it as a product of “political jesters” with no legal standing.

The Usman-led group insists that Peter Obi remains a respected figure in the Labour Party and that his involvement in the coalition was not only known but also backed by the party since May 26, 2025.

“The 48-hour ultimatum by Abure is not only laughable but also a desperate attempt to remain politically relevant. Peter Obi’s participation in the coalition has our full blessing,” a statement from the Usman group read.

The Labour Party has been embroiled in leadership battles since after the 2023 election, with court cases and conflicting party conventions deepening the schism. While Abure maintains he is the legitimate National Chairman, other factions, including the one aligned with Senator Usman, have claimed the same title following a court-sanctioned convention.

As the deadline looms, political watchers are keenly observing Obi’s next move. Whether he will respond publicly to the ultimatum or continue to chart his course within the broader opposition movement remains to be seen.

What is clear, however, is that the Labour Party faces an uphill task in presenting a united front ahead of the 2027 polls.

For now, Obi has remained silent on the ultimatum, but his next steps could prove decisive—not just for his political future, but for the fate of a fractured Labour Party.