Labour Party on the Brink in Anambra: Obi’s Influence Faces Real Test Amid Crisis, Zoning Drama

 

As the countdown to the November 8 off-cycle governorship election in Anambra State begins, the Labour Party (LP) finds itself walking a political tightrope, caught between the lingering charisma of Peter Obi and a cascade of internal crises threatening to derail its momentum.

George Moghalu, a political heavyweight with previous affiliations to the All Progressives Congress (APC), has emerged as LP's flag bearer. Yet, his candidacy is already mired in controversy, and observers are skeptical of his ability to galvanize a fractured party apparatus in time for the crucial poll.

Though Moghalu’s emergence ticks the zoning box—being from Anambra South—it has done little to quell dissent within the party. Moghalu only joined the LP in October 2024, shortly after his resignation from the APC, raising eyebrows about loyalty and long-term commitment. His swift rise to the top has ignited tensions, with one-time aspirant Sir John Nwosu outrightly dismissing the LP primary as a “charade.” Nwosu’s camp alleges that votes were fabricated to legitimize an uncontested process, even after he had formally stepped down.

The internal cracks in LP began widening when prominent figure Valentine Ozigbo, once considered a frontrunner for the ticket, exited the party in February. His departure followed complaints of manipulation and betrayal, allegedly orchestrated by LP insiders, including Senator Tony Nwoye, Peter Obi's former aide Oseloka Obaze, and National Organizing Secretary Chief Clement Ojukwu. That exit not only dismantled major power blocs within the party but also stripped the LP of a candidate with wide appeal and deep roots in Anambra South—arguably the zone poised to produce the next governor.

Despite the LP’s impressive outing in the 2023 general elections—winning two senatorial seats, five House of Representatives slots, and eight seats in the Anambra State House of Assembly—the party’s current form suggests a shaky foundation. Much of its past success is attributed to the "Obi wave," which saw youths and reform-minded voters rally around the former governor turned LP presidential candidate. But replicating that support in a local, highly competitive election could be far more difficult.

Even within Obi’s political family, silence reigns where action is needed. High-profile LP lawmakers like Senator Tony Nwoye and Chief Victor Umeh have maintained a conspicuous distance from the brewing crisis. Party stalwart Afam Ilouno, a former media aide during Obi’s presidential campaign, argues that their silence is troubling, particularly for lawmakers who might seek re-election on the LP platform in 2027.

"The LP cannot go into this election disunited and expect miracles. The APC is surging, APGA remains strong, and our party is at risk of implosion unless something drastic happens fast," Ilouno warned.

Indeed, Anambra's governorship race has taken shape as a three-way contest, with LP trailing behind the dominant All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) and an emboldened APC. Incumbent Governor Charles Soludo has clinched the APGA ticket and is riding on a wave of recent goodwill, spurred by notable improvements in governance and development. Once criticized for a sluggish start, Soludo is now being praised for a turnaround that may just secure him a second term.

The APC, meanwhile, is flexing new muscle in the Southeast. Its recent primary featured heavyweights like Ozigbo, Obiora Okonkwo, and Nicholas Ukachukwu, with Ukachukwu eventually clinching the ticket. The party is banking on a strategic push into the region, aiming to control a third Southeast state and leverage Anambra’s symbolic importance.

Once a dominant player in Anambra politics, the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) has faded into near irrelevance, lacking a clear candidate and suffering from organizational fatigue.

Adding to LP’s woes is the shadow cast by a recent Supreme Court ruling on party leadership. The judgment, which nullified an earlier decision that recognized Julius Abure as LP national chairman, has been interpreted in multiple ways, further muddying internal cohesion. "Some party members are twisting the ruling for selfish gains," Ilouno remarked. "But the court was clear—leadership issues are internal matters."

With just months to go, the LP must confront a critical question: can the party transform Peter Obi’s enduring influence into electoral success in the absence of unity, credibility, and grassroots mobilization?

Unless it can rally its disjointed factions, the November 8 election may serve not as a continuation of LP’s 2023 surge—but as a stark reminder that political capital must be constantly earned, not inherited.