The former Anambra State governor and 2023 presidential flagbearer of the Labour Party, Peter Obi, crossed paths with Nasir El-Rufai, the former Kaduna State governor, in the United States on Saturday.
According to Naturenex, the two Nigerian politicians met while attending the 11th Annual Cambridge Africa Together Conference, which took place at St. John’s College, University of Cambridge. The conference is a yearly gathering that draws together African leaders, intellectuals, and innovators to discuss the continent’s pressing issues and future prospects.
El-Rufai was one of the keynote speakers at this year’s event, while Peter Obi also participated, maintaining his active engagement in international forums since the conclusion of Nigeria’s last presidential election.
While Obi contested the presidency under the Labour Party platform in 2023, El-Rufai — who recently shifted from the All Progressives Congress (APC) to the Social Democratic Party (SDP) — is believed to be politically aligning with former Vice President Atiku Abubakar.
Both men have reportedly worked alongside Atiku in forming an opposition coalition with the shared goal of unseating President Bola Tinubu’s government. The coalition, as speculated in political circles, may operate through the SDP, with El-Rufai allegedly positioned as Atiku’s key figure within the party structure.
In a related political development, a notable chieftain of the Labour Party, Ebere Uzoukwa, has levelled serious accusations against Julius Abure, claiming that the LP National Chairman is doing everything possible to retain his seat despite the expiration of his four-year tenure.
As reported by Naturenex, Uzoukwa, who currently serves as the Senior Special Assistant on Public Affairs to the Governor of Abia State, made these claims during an interview with Vanguard in Umuahia.
Uzoukwa expressed his concern over Abure’s refusal to comply with a Supreme Court judgment, which he says marked the end of Abure’s tenure as Labour Party National Chairman.
“Barr. Julius Abure is using all means to cling to power. This has led him into disobeying the clear judgment of the Supreme Court, which ruled that his tenure has ended.”
He went on to allege that Abure’s intentions are rooted in plans to use the Labour Party as a tool for personal and political gain in the lead-up to the 2027 general elections.
“You can see him playing all sorts of games to serve the interests of his paymasters for the 2027 general elections. He wants the Labour Party destabilised at all costs,” Uzoukwa stated.
Furthermore, Uzoukwa claimed that the recent purported suspension of Abia State Governor, Dr. Alex Otti, was part of a broader strategy by Abure to tighten his grip on the party.
“This did not come as a surprise. This action was planned following Governor Otti and other leaders’ roles in retrieving the Labour Party from Abure and his fellow political merchants,” he added.
