The leadership of the Labour Party (LP) has issued a 48-hour ultimatum to its 2023 presidential candidate, Peter Obi, demanding his formal resignation from the party over his alleged involvement in the emerging opposition coalition.
The ultimatum was contained in a statement released on Thursday by the party’s National Publicity Secretary, Obiora Ifoh, under the leadership of Julius Abure.
The party reiterated its stance against joining the coalition, describing its members as “power-hungry politicians” whose primary interests, it claimed, do not align with those of the Nigerian people.
“The often-repeated slogan, ‘a new Nigeria is possible,’ is a deceptive narrative when championed by a coalition of recycled, desperate, and frustrated politicians,” the statement read.
The LP accused Obi of holding secret meetings with some party members, allegedly lobbying them to join him in forming a new political movement. It claimed several members had declined to defect.
“We are aware of several nocturnal meetings between Peter Obi and some of our members. Labour Party has consistently made it clear that we are not part of the coalition.
Any member participating in it is hereby given 48 hours to resign from the party,” the statement said.
The party condemned what it described as attempts by individuals to maintain dual allegiances, stating that LP will not serve as a platform for politicians with “deceptive personas.”
“This party is not for those who claim to belong to the Labour Party in the morning and switch allegiances in the evening.
Nigerians, especially the youth, are tired of the old political order and cannot achieve the ‘New Nigeria’ through the same politicians who mismanaged the country for decades,” the statement added.
The LP maintained that it remains committed to leading the country toward genuine reform and urged its members to remain loyal and preserve the party’s structure ahead of future elections.