- As Baba-Ahmed denies rumoured presidential ambition
The Labour Party (LP) has affirmed Abia State governor, Alex Otti, as its national leader and wished its presidential candidate in the 2023 election, Peter Obi, well following his decision to join the coalition African Democratic Congress (ADC).
The party’s National Secretary, Darlington Nwokocha, disclosed this in a communique, saying the decision followed a meeting by the LP’s National Working Committee (NWC) on Wednesday to deliberate on key issues affecting the stability, growth, and strategic direction of the Party.
“The NWC, in a unanimous decision, affirmed its recognition of His Excellency, Governor Alex Chioma Otti, as the National Leader of the Labour Party,” the communique read in part.
“The National leadership of the Labour Party wishes His Excellency Mr. Peter Obi well in his future political endeavours and in his new political party.”
The opposition party said its NWC also recognised former Finance Minister, Nenadi Usman, as the party’s national chairman.
LP explained that the party reaffirmed the Supreme Court judgment of April 4, 2025, which held that the tenure of Julius Abure as National Chairman of the Labour Party had elapsed.
It called on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to accord Usman and its National Secretary, Nwokocha, all rights and privileges in line with the court verdict recently cited by the electoral body.
“The NWC reaffirmed that all congresses and the National Convention of the Party shall hold accordingly, in strict compliance with the provisions of the Party Constitution. Members at all levels are therefore encouraged to actively participate in the congress processes,” the LP said.
It thanked party members and Nigerians for their continued interest in, and confidence reposed in, the Labour Party.
The NWC reaffirmed that the Labour Party remains united, indivisible, indissoluble and steadfast in its mission to build a Nigeria founded on equal opportunity, social justice, and good governance.
LP, one of the opposition parties in Nigeria, came out third in the 2023 presidential election with Obi as its flag-bearer.
Meanwhile, the party’s former vice-presidential candidate, Datti Baba-Ahmed, has declared that Obi will be welcomed back to the party if he does not secure the ADC presidential ticket.
Datti said this on Friday during an interview on Channels Television’s The Morning Brief, and explained that it is better for Obi to come back to the platform in which they contested the 2023 presidential election.
“I also said if Peter Obi does not get the ticket there in ADC, he is more than welcome back to the Labour Party,” the Kaduna-born politician said.
“I will stand there and nobody will do anything bad to Peter Obi. It is better for him to come back than for him to do another type of agenda.”
His comment comes after Obi joined the African Democratic Congress (ADC) coalition, about three years after they contested on a joint ticket for the presidency under the Labour Party (LP).
However, Datti said, he is proud of what he and Obi have achieved together.
The LP chieftain has denied claims of leaving the opposition party, describing reports suggesting such as false.
He explained during the morning show that he only clarified that he was still a member of the LP.
“I never declared to contest the presidency even though there could be a possibility of that happening. I certainly did not declare for the presidency. I simply reiterated my membership of the Labour Party,” he said.
“That is all and in the submissions I made, I clearly stated that one will have to wait for the INEC timetable and for the party to make the call for people to indicate their interest.”
He blamed those who employ sensationalism on social media “for putting out wrong narratives to emotional listeners”.