LABOUR PARTY CRISES: LP Edo Chapter Accuses Former Presidential Candidate, Peter Obi

-SPECIAL REPORT-

 LABOUR PARTY CRISES: LP Edo Chapter Accuses Former Presidential Candidate, Peter Obi

In a dramatic escalation of internal tensions within Nigeria’s Labour Party (LP), the Edo State chapter has publicly accused its 2023 presidential candidate, Mr. Peter Obi, of being the architect of the party’s ongoing national crisis.

The allegations were made by Hon. Elizabeth Ativie, factional chairman of the Edo LP and a staunch loyalist of the party’s National Chairman, Barrister Julius Abure, during a press briefing in Benin City on September 30, 20252.

Ativie asserted that the root of the crisis lies in Obi’s failure to resolve post-primary election disputes across various states, which she claims has fractured the party’s unity. She cited Obi’s alleged disregard for the National Working Committee’s (NWC) decision to zone the 2024 Edo governorship ticket to the Edo Central senatorial district. Instead, Obi reportedly endorsed Barrister Olumide Akpata from Edo South, a move Ativie described as a betrayal of party consensus and a catalyst for division.

The most explosive claim centers on a controversial stakeholders’ meeting held in Umuahia, Abia State, on September 4, 2024. According to Ativie, this gathering, convened by Peter Obi and Governor Alex Otti, was an “illegal” attempt to oust the legally constituted NWC through clandestine means. She alleged that this meeting marked the beginning of factionalism within the party, fueled by Obi’s “desperation to control the soul of the party”.

Ativie did not mince words in her condemnation of Obi’s leadership qualities. She described him as lacking the “competence, character, and capacity” to lead Nigeria, accusing him of being a dictator whose personal ambition overrides party unity and national interest. She lamented that despite the party’s unwavering support for Obi during the 2023 presidential campaign, including canvassing in dangerous regions like Sambisa, he failed to reciprocate with loyalty or strategic leadership.

The Edo LP chair further criticized Obi’s post-election conduct, claiming that instead of consolidating the party’s gains and fostering unity, he embarked on a series of political alliances that alienated core party members. She argued that his inability to guide his followers and resolve disputes in states like Anambra, Plateau, and Borno before key governorship elections exemplifies his unsuitability for national leadership.

This public rebuke from a prominent state chapter underscores the deepening rift within the Labour Party and raises serious questions about its future cohesion.

As the party grapples with internal discord, the accusations against Peter Obi mark a significant turning point in its post-election trajectory, potentially reshaping its leadership dynamics and strategic direction ahead of future national contests.