"You Have 48Hrs": Labour Party Draws Battle Line with Peter Obi Over Coalition Ties, Demands Immediate Resignation

 

Tensions reached boiling point within Nigeria’s Labour Party (LP) on Wednesday as the party leadership issued a sharp 48-hour ultimatum to former presidential candidate Peter Obi, demanding that he resign his membership following his recent involvement with a newly formed political coalition.

The statement, released by the party’s National Publicity Secretary, Obiora Ifoh, came on the heels of growing speculation surrounding Obi's alliance with a political coalition comprising several heavyweight figures, many of whom have held power in the country’s past. The LP has made it categorically clear that it has no interest in joining the said coalition and accused its members of being driven by self-serving motives rather than national interest.

According to Ifoh, the Labour Party believes the coalition is a regrouping of politicians who have had their chances in leadership and failed the country. The press release condemned the coalition as an assembly of individuals whose political relevance has expired, describing them as “desperate, recycled and frustrated politicians” attempting to hijack the narrative of national rebirth.

"These are the same people who over the years mismanaged Nigeria," Ifoh declared. "Now, under the banner of a coalition, they seek to relaunch themselves into power. That’s not how we build a new Nigeria."

The statement directly accused Peter Obi of holding clandestine meetings with Labour Party members in a bid to lure them into his new political vehicle. While some have reportedly declined his overtures, the LP leadership remains on high alert, ready to sever ties with any member engaging with the coalition.

The development has drawn public attention to the fragility of political alliances and the growing disillusionment among younger Nigerians, especially the youth who were at the heart of the "Obidient" movement that powered Obi’s momentum during the 2023 general elections.

Labour Party emphasized that it will not serve as a platform for politicians with conflicting loyalties. The party’s stance is firm: anyone attempting to play dual roles between the Labour Party and the coalition is required to choose a side or leave. This warning applies not just to Obi, but to any member entertaining divided political interests.

“Our party is not available for people with dual agenda or deceptive persona. We cannot accept individuals who claim Labour Party loyalty by day but strategize with coalition members by night,” the statement warned.

Youthful voters, who represent nearly 70 percent of the Nigerian electorate, have repeatedly called for political renewal, expressing dissatisfaction with older generations of leaders. This is the sentiment Labour Party is aligning with, claiming that the so-called coalition does not represent the kind of transformation that Nigerian youths are demanding.

Political observers note that this is not the first time internal disputes have threatened the unity of LP. However, this episode appears to signal a critical juncture. The party is working hard to distance itself from legacy politicians, presenting itself as the only genuine alternative capable of delivering a "New Nigeria."

Ifoh urged LP members to maintain their loyalty and focus on the long-term vision of rebuilding the nation, not through shortcuts or opportunistic coalitions, but through grassroots mobilization and ideological clarity. He emphasized that the Labour Party has what it takes to guide the country through a new trajectory, especially as preparations for future elections begin to gather pace.

“This dream of a new Nigeria will not come through recycled politicians trying to regain power through the back door,” he said. “It will be born out of courage, discipline, sacrifice and the will to break away from the mistakes of the past.”

The coalition, though still in its formative stage, has already sparked debate about its purpose and leadership. Critics question whether it is truly a people-oriented movement or merely a resurrection of failed leadership under a new name.

Labour Party's swift rejection of the coalition's relevance reinforces the deepening ideological divide in Nigeria’s opposition landscape. With multiple actors now vying for the moral and electoral leadership of the reformist space, the unity of Nigeria’s opposition is being tested like never before.

Observers will be watching closely over the next 48 hours to see whether Peter Obi responds to the ultimatum, resigns from the Labour Party, or challenges the directive. His next move could either deepen the internal rift or redefine his political trajectory entirely.

In a political atmosphere filled with uncertainty and ambition, one thing remains clear: the Labour Party is drawing the line, and anyone who wishes to cross it must be prepared to leave the party behind.