Deputy National Chairman of the Labour Party (LP), Ayo Olorunfemi, has advised Peter Obi, the party’s presidential candidate in the 2023 general elections, to disregard mounting appeals for him to dump the Labour Party ahead of 2027.
Naturenex reports that a recent appeal from Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) chieftain, Segun Sowunmi, amid political realignments in Delta State, called for Obi’s return to the PDP. Sowunmi argued that Obi’s homecoming could be a strategic boost to help the party challenge the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in the next elections.
In reaction, Olorunfemi, who previously vied for the Ondo governorship seat under the LP banner, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos on Sunday that rather than consider defection, Obi should direct his energy towards mending and solidifying the party’s structure.
While recognising Obi’s constitutional right to associate freely, Olorunfemi warned of the potential negative implications should Obi entertain offers from rival parties.
He stated, “Now that he has contested and he has seen the LP force, if he decides to go to another political party, it will then speak volumes of his intention.”
Olorunfemi went on to stress, “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.”
According to him, any hint of Obi leaving the party would raise doubts in the minds of many Nigerians about his political convictions.
“So, it will now be left for Nigerians to decide whether Obi, who got millions of votes under the Labour Party, can still be voted for under the PDP or another party,” he added.
Olorunfemi further advised Obi to prioritise reconciling differences within the Labour Party and strengthening its base rather than chasing new political alliances.
“He (Obi) must use his tongue to count his teeth. If I were he, what I would be doing now is working to restore peace in the Labour Party and rebuild it,” he said.
He underscored the importance of resolving internal conflicts: “He should find a way to resolve the issues in the party and remain on the platform. He should remain in the party and restore peace. He should stay and resolve the crises he and others created in LP.”
The party leader also warned that moving to another party would damage Obi’s public image. “Moving around will portray him as an opportunistic politician, not different from these politicians jumping here and there.”
Olorunfemi reminded Obi of the sacrifices made by party members in 2022 to support his presidential ambition, noting that while they rallied behind him, LP’s survival does not solely depend on his presence.
On the ongoing leadership disputes, Olorunfemi defended the Julius Abure-led National Working Committee (NWC), dismissing claims of wrongdoing against Obi or his supporters.
He recalled, “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.”
Olorunfemi also reflected on the personal sacrifices he made: “My own people, in the course of fighting for him (Obi), called me names for fighting for someone not from my tribe. LP is blind to ethnicity, and I supported him because I believe in politics devoid of ethnic sentiment.”
He admitted that conflicts are inevitable in politics but maintained that the party has managed its internal disputes with caution and within the bounds of the law. “There is bound to be a crisis. People will come with different things in mind, but we have to moderate everything like we are doing now in LP.”
Reaffirming the NWC’s commitment to legal procedures, he asserted, “Everything we are doing in the Labour Party is in line with our constitution. That is our strength.”
Olorunfemi then challenged dissenters to back their criticisms with constitutional evidence: “Anybody who wants to challenge the authority of the NWC should challenge it to the constitution. They should show us the aspect of the constitution that has been violated. If they confront us with the facts, then we will agree with them.”
