Datti Baba-Ahmed, a former Labour Party (LP) vice presidential candidate, denied widespread reports that former Anambra State Governor Peter Obi has quit the party on Friday.
After the party’s National Executive Council meeting in Abuja, which was attended by representatives of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Baba-Ahmed addressed reporters.
Reports claiming that Obi had left the LP were criticized by the senior party figure, who said the allegations were unfounded.
Our brother, His Excellency Peter Obi, is still a member of the Labour Party, as far as we are aware. Nothing is different. He remarked, “I would have moved my seat to the left for him if he were here right now.”
The former vice presidential candidate praised INEC’s involvement, describing its presence as a symbolic victory for the party’s credibility.
“This NEC meeting’s highlight and significant turning point is the presence of INEC, which validates this sitting and justifies our presence here,” he stated.
We strictly adhere to what the law stipulates. “As law-abiding citizens, we strictly adhere to what the law stipulates,” he continued, highlighting procedural compliance.
The Labour Party has not shrunk in any manner, according to Baba-Ahmed. Our population has only grown.
“As is typical with political associations, we have gone through difficult times and have emerged from it,” he clarified, characterizing the NEC meeting as a revitalized effort to promote reconciliation.
According to Baba-Ahmed, Nigeria’s political decisions have been a major factor in recent crises and rising insecurity across the country.
A national emergency was declared in Nigeria just two days ago. As you may remember, we told Nigeria and the rest of the world that this was probably going to happen, and it is,” he remarked.
He cited recent security lapses, claiming that these would not have happened under a government governed by LP.
“Nigerians voted in large numbers for change, and something else happened,” Baba-Ahmed stated. As a result, we witnessed hundreds of school kidnappings and public executions of senior army leaders two days ago.
“If the Labour Party had formed the Nigerian government, these would never have occurred.”
Baba-Ahmed also discussed the welfare of workers, stating that the LP is still committed to just labor laws.
“It is the Labour Party’s birthright to ensure decent and realistic living wages for all workers; this will play a key role from now till 2027 and beyond,” he declared.
Julius Abure, the factional National Chairman, is presiding over Friday’s NEC meeting. This meeting takes place months after the contentious 2024 Labour Party national convention in Nnewi, which led to a division of the party’s leadership into opposing factions.
