Tension is boiling within the Labour Party as its Julius Abure-led faction has issued a 48-hour ultimatum to former presidential candidate Peter Obi, demanding he resign his membership following his involvement in the new political coalition. The party made its position clear in a strongly worded statement on Thursday, July 3, 2025, accusing Obi of betraying the party’s ideals and structure.

National Publicity Secretary Obiora Ifoh, speaking for the faction, described Obi’s move as disloyal and misleading, noting that the party was never part of the Third Force alliance currently forming around Obi, Atiku, and other opposition figures. He insisted that Labour Party remains a distinct movement and will not align with what he called “recycled power mongers desperate for a comeback.”

Ifoh condemned the coalition as an opportunistic gathering of politicians who contributed to Nigeria’s current woes. He warned that the dream of a “New Nigeria” cannot be realized with figures who represent the old, corrupt order under a new disguise. According to him, “you can’t build something new with tools of decay.”

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Allegations were also raised that Obi has been secretly lobbying LP members to defect and follow him into the emerging alliance, but many reportedly refused. The party warned that any member caught double-dealing would face expulsion. “You cannot have one leg in Labour and another in a strange marriage of convenience,” Ifoh stated.

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The Labour Party further clarified that it was not founded to serve as a political stepping stone for anyone, particularly those who switch affiliations based on political weather. The statement emphasized that the party’s credibility and youth appeal must be preserved ahead of the 2027 general elections.

The rift has sparked widespread reactions online, with some supporters defending Obi’s actions as strategic, while others accuse him of betraying the structure that lifted him during the 2023 elections. Many await Obi’s formal response, though his silence so far is fueling speculation that he may be planning a complete breakaway.

With this dramatic turn, observers say Nigeria’s political chessboard may be heading for a major realignment that could either redefine opposition unity—or fracture it further.

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