By Ayomide Otitoju
The Acting National Chairman of the Labour Party (LP), Senator Nenadi Usman, has reaffirmed the party’s support for its 2023 presidential candidate, Peter Obi, following his involvement in a newly formed opposition coalition led by former Senate President David Mark.
In a statement released on Thursday through her spokesperson, Ken Asogwa, Usman dismissed the Julius Abure-led faction within the party as “political jesters with no legitimate standing.” She claimed that the group, which issued a 48-hour ultimatum to Obi to resign from the party, lacks legal recognition, having been “sacked by the Supreme Court” and suspended from the LP for “serial acts of indiscipline and anti-party activities.”
Usman emphasized that the party had officially endorsed Obi’s participation in coalition-building efforts as of May 26, 2025. “Our position has not changed,” she said. “Mr. Peter Obi’s involvement in the coalition, including the ADC unveiling, has the full knowledge and approval of the Labour Party leadership.”
She further stated that the current leadership is focused on “cleaning up the remnants of disorder” left behind by the Abure faction and urged the public and media to ignore “discredited elements.”
The opposition coalition, which met in Abuja on July 2, named the African Democratic Congress (ADC) as its platform for the 2027 elections. David Mark and former Osun State Governor Rauf Aregbesola were named interim National Chair and Secretary, respectively.
Prominent political figures present at the coalition meeting included Obi, former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, ex-Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai, ex-Rivers State Governor Rotimi Amaechi, Dino Melaye, Dele Momodu, Ireti Kingibe, Gabriel Suswam, and Emeka Ihedioha.
