The battle for the soul of Labour Party is still raging as three factions seek recognition, authority and relevance.
In the media space, there is a faction led by Julius Abure. Senator Nenadi Usman leads another while Pa Lamidi Apapa is the chairman of yet another splinter.
The participation of Mr Peter Obi in the grand coalition against President Bola Tinubu has rekindled the controversy over legitimacy and ‘ownership’ of the LP. A story making the rounds earlier gave Obi 48 hours to renounce his romance with the African Democratic Congress led by former Senate President, David Mark.
The Abure faction of the party, in a statement by its National Publicity Secretary, Obiora Ifoh, said the ultimatum to Obi was sequel to his involvement in the ongoing coalition arrangement by some prominent opposition figures.
Ifoh, who said that the party was not interested in joining any coalition arrangement, described members of the coalition as a group of power mongers whose only interest was self and not the people.
He described the often mouthed ‘A New Nigeria is Possible’ as a ruse and that cannot be achieved without selfless leaders.
“Labour Party has consistently said it is not part of the coalition and, therefore, any of our members who is part of the coalition is given within 48 hours to formally resign his membership of the party.
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Ifoh described those in the coalition arrangement as opportunistic politicians who were only interested in re-launching themselves into a circle of power and desperate to continue holding on to power.
“The new Nigeria of our dream can only be realised through Labour Party and the party is willing to lead Nigerians along that trajectory.
“I, therefore, urge all members of the party to remain loyal and keep the party structure intact ahead of future elections,” he said.
A counter Press Statement, issued by Ken Eluma Asogwa, the Senior Special Adviser, Media, to the Acting National Chairman of the Labour Party, Senator Nenadi Usman, denounced the statement by Ifoh as misleading and that the leadership of the LP actually gave Obi the nod to get involved in the “coalition efforts aimed at creating a robust political alternative to rescue Nigeria”.
The statement reads: “We wish to reaffirm that Mr. Peter Obi’s participation in the coalition activities, including the ADC unveiling, was done with the full knowledge, approval, and support of the Labour Party leadership.
“The individuals claiming to have issued an ultimatum to Mr. Obi are political jesters with no legitimate standing in the Labour Party. They are neither recognised by the party nor by the law, having long been sacked by the Supreme Court of Nigeria – the highest court in the land – and suspended from the party for their serial acts of indiscipline and anti-party activities.
“It is the remnants of the disorder and mess left behind by these impostors that the current leadership under Senator Nenadi Usman continues to clean. Therefore, members of the public, and especially the media, are urged to disregard the distractions and mischief from these discredited elements.
“For clarity, the only legitimate and authoritative source of information regarding the official position of the Labour Party on any matter remains the office of Senator Nenadi Usman, Acting National Chairman of the Labour Party.”
The race to 2027 will certainly throw up more intrigues and political brickbats. Nigerians are watching as opposition gladiators try to position themselves as capable of providing a better alternative to the APC government of Bola Tinubu.
Crediblenewsng.com
