The Deputy National Chairman of the Labour Party (LP), Dr. Ayo Olorunfemi, has advised Peter Obi, the LP presidential candidate in the 2023 election, to ignore all calls to leave the party ahead of the 2027 general election.
Speaking with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Sunday in Lagos, Olorunfemi, who is also the LP candidate for the 2024 Ondo governorship election, urged Obi to focus on rebuilding the Labour Party instead of considering defection.
NAN reports that some individuals, including Mr. Segun Sowunmi, a former PDP governorship candidate in Ogun State, have called on Obi to return to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), arguing it would strengthen PDP’s chances in 2027. Sowunmi also stated that Obi owes much of his national political recognition to his time in the PDP.
However, Olorunfemi cautioned that although Obi is free to associate with any political party of his choice, he must be wary of "dangerous advances." He emphasized that leaving the Labour Party after the 2023 elections would raise questions about Obi’s commitment to LP’s ideology and portray him as an opportunist.
“If he decides to go to another political party, it will then speak volumes of his intention,” Olorunfemi said. “It will tell whether he truly believed in the ideology of the Labour Party before coming to run, or he just wanted to use the opportunity of the platform.”
He advised Obi to concentrate on restoring peace and rebuilding the Labour Party rather than switching parties.
Olorunfemi expressed confidence in Obi’s ability to resolve the internal crises within LP, recalling that some aspirants stepped down in 2022 to allow Obi to emerge as the party’s presidential candidate. He stressed that if Obi chose to leave, LP would still continue as a strong opposition party.
Addressing the leadership crisis within the party, Olorunfemi defended the Julius Abure-led National Working Committee (NWC), stating that the NWC remained committed to the party’s constitution and had always supported Obi.
“What is the offence of Abure? He stood in the sun, stood in the rain. All of us in the NWC stood by him (Obi). In spite of all the attacks, we stood by him,” he said.
Olorunfemi insisted that any grievances against the NWC should be substantiated with constitutional evidence. He concluded by reiterating that internal crises are natural but must be managed constitutionally.
NAN reports that the Labour Party has been facing a leadership crisis since losing the 2023 presidential election.
