The Labour Party presidential candidate for the 2023 election, Peter Obi, has distanced himself from Monday’s reconciliation meeting between his former running mate, Dr. Datti Baba-Ahmed, and the Julius Abure-led leadership.
The Labour Party has been embroiled in a leadership crisis, which erupted in April when three individuals claimed to be the party’s legitimate leaders.
This came when the Supreme Court disqualified Julius Abure, the party’s national head, despite being acknowledged by the Independent National Electoral Commission.
Lamidi Apapa exacerbated the situation by asserting that, as the most senior member of the Working Committee, he was the proper candidate to lead the party following the Supreme Court’s decision.
Meanwhile, the Nenadi Usman-led wing of the party has the support of LP 2023 presidential candidate Peter Pbi and Abia State Governor Alex Otti.
In response to the meeting between Abure and Datti Baba-Ahmed, Dr. Yunusa Tanko, National Coordinator of the Obedient Movement Worldwide, told reporters on Monday that the group remained steadfastly loyal to Governor Otti and the caretaker government led by Senator Nenadi Usman.
“We are not aware of that particular meeting, but we are resolute. We will continue as Obidients to mobilise with His Excellency, Peter Obi. And we have also said that wherever he goes, that’s where we are going.
“Of course, Nigerians are aware, and you know very clearly that Obi is with Governor Alex Otti and the Senator Nenadi Usman caretaker committee. That is where we stand.
“Being the leader of the Obidient Movement, wherever he stands, that is where we stand. That is just what I know. We are not aware of any other arrangement.”
When told that some notable Obidient loyalists, including Hajia Nana Kazauri, attended the meeting, Tanko clarified that she did so merely as an observer.
“She’s a sound Obidient member, and she remains one. It is necessary to make it clear so that we don’t have any form of misunderstanding. I can assure you that there is no single crack whatsoever. We stand solidly behind His Excellency, Peter Obi.
“It is also worthy to point out that there is an excellent working relationship between Datti Baba-Ahmed and Peter Obi. There is no single crack as being insinuated,” he said.
Speaking on whether Obi was aware of Datti’s visit to Abure, Tanko added, “As I told you before, we are not aware of such a meeting. But anybody who has a good idea or innovation to resolve the conflict for the good of everybody is at liberty to do so.”
It was gathered that Datti Baba-Ahmed formally recognised Julius Abure as the authentic National Chairman of the Labour Party during a meeting of Abure’s National Executive Committee in Abuja.
“Labour Party is not a party to walk away from,” Datti said. “The successes and the history that the Labour Party of Nigeria has recorded are unique and unprecedented.”
Reflecting on the 2023 elections, Datti said, “We presented clear records and evidence of 10 million votes scored in the last election, thereafter reduced to 6.1 million votes. The act of state capture is a more onerous task, causing disunity and disaffection within political parties.”
Datti stated that his mission was to reconcile all party factions.
“I am here as a peacemaker to reconcile divergent opinions. I’m very proud to say that I did attend meetings of a certain attempt for a coalition in Nigeria. Morally speaking, if your neighbourhood invites you to discuss security, you must attend.
“However, if you attend and they discuss other matters besides that, you are at liberty to restore yourself to your former position. I have attended, and I have listened to the coalition attempts, yet I still remain in the Labour Party. I am not one to sleepwalk into any political arrangements,” he explained.
Datti also advised LP members to be wary of alliances that do not reflect the party’s values.
“I must say, in the past, a coalition was made, and a Nigerian government was voted out. I note with pleasure that this is what we as the Labour Party did in 2023 and what we are about to do again in 2027.
“However, the government that follows is even more important than the act of removing a government itself. A government was removed, and what followed was disaster.”
Datti acknowledged the INEC-recognised Abure-led executive but also noted the presence of the Nenadi Usman group.
“This I do, devoid of any personal interest, devoid of any ambition, and devoid of any animosity to any group whatsoever,” he said.
He expressed confidence in Obi’s commitment to the party, saying, “I am glad also to note that from the comments of my boss, His Excellency Governor Peter Obi, he still remains in the Labour Party.”
He promised to unite the various camps within the party, “For us to sit down, understand each other better and move forward.”
In his reaction, Abure praised Datti’s reconciliation efforts and extended an olive branch to Obi, Otti, and other disgruntled members.
“I want to state very clearly that legality does not give room to illegality. The apex court has stated clearly that the party is supreme and that the issues of leadership are internal affairs of the party. By virtue of that, we affirm that the constitution of the party and the leadership elected by members in 2024 at Nnewi, which produced the current leader.
“You will agree with me that the so-called group is not only illegitimate but illegal. Consequently, legality cannot give room to illegality.
“We are therefore using this opportunity to say that our doors are open. I think the question should go to aggrieved members of the party.
“We’re ready to forgive them if they return and apologize. They should sheath their sword and come back.”
