Obi remains Labour Party member, says Baba-Ahmed

A former vice-presidential candidate of the Labour Party, Datti Baba-Ahmed, on Friday stated that former Anambra State Governor, Peter Obi, has not left the party.

Speaking to journalists after the party’s National Executive Council meeting in Abuja, which was observed by officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission, Baba-Ahmed dismissed reports suggesting that Obi had dumped the LP.

“To the best of our knowledge, our brother, His Excellency Peter Obi, is still a member of the Labour Party. Nothing has changed. If he were here now, I would have shifted my seat to the left for him,” he said.

Baba-Ahmed maintained that the party had survived its internal troubles, adding that the development signalled better days ahead.

He also described INEC’s attendance at the meeting as a major boost.

“The Labour Party has not reduced in any way. We have only increased in numbers. But with the submission of our leader, the National Secretary, we have gone through rough times, as is usual with political associations, and have emerged from it.

“The highlight and major turning point of this NEC meeting is the presence of INEC, which validates this sitting and justifies our presence here. As law-abiding citizens, we strictly go by what the law provides.

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“This is a renewed drive for reconciliation, and I am here as a loyal party member to continue to open our arms to embrace new and existing members, to come back and reconcile with the party for the national assignment ahead of us,” he stated.

Commenting on rising insecurity in the country, the LP chieftain recalled that they had warned Nigerians that such outcomes were likely if they failed to elect the right leadership.

He said, “Only two days ago, a state of national emergency was declared in Nigeria. If you recall, we warned Nigeria and the world that this was likely to happen — and it is happening.

“Nigerians voted en masse for change, and something else happened. The result is what we saw two days ago: school abductions in hundreds, senior army officers killed publicly.

“These would never have happened if the Labour Party had formed the government of Nigeria.”

He added that the LP remained committed to workers’ welfare.

“It is the birthright of LP, among all political parties, to ensure decent and realistic living wages for all workers. This will play a key role from now until 2027 and beyond.”

Friday’s NEC meeting, chaired by National Chairman Julius Abure, was part of ongoing efforts to resolve the leadership tussle triggered by the controversial 2024 national convention in Nnewi, which split the party into rival camps backed by top figures, including Obi and Abia State Governor Alex Otti.