Deepening internal crises within the Labour Party (LP) following a disputed National Convention and a funding crunch, coupled with speculation about Peter Obi’s platform, are casting a significant shadow over his potential 2027 presidential bid
Internal crises are deepening within the Labour Party (LP), casting dark clouds over Peter Obi’s 2027 presidential ambition and efforts to consolidate the party, which secured over six million votes in 2023.
The crisis stems from a disputed March 2024 National Convention that re-elected Julius Abure as chairman, which the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) rejected. INEC subsequently argued the party’s NWC tenure was invalid after June 2024. Despite a caretaker committee formed by Obi and Governor Alex Otti, efforts to settle the dispute have failed.
The crisis is exacerbated by poor funding, leading to the interim NWC’s National Publicity Secretary, Tony Akeni, announcing his intention to resign, lamenting a “fund-yourself party policy.”
Amid the internal turmoil, Obiora Ifoh, the party’s national publicity secretary, admitted: “Yes, there is no doubt that this party did not have what it takes to compete with the other parties before His Excellency, Peter Obi, came on board, but what is currently happening to the party is certainly not what we had anticipated.”
Despite speculation of Obi exiting the LP, a member of the Obidient Movement, Katcy Ononuju, assured that supporters would follow him: “Even if Peter Obi goes to any other party, we already have planted our men in the party and they will vote for Peter Obi in 2027.”