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Former Labour Party vice-presidential candidate, Datti Baba-Ahmed, stated on Friday that ex-Anambra State Governor, Peter Obi, remains a member of the party.
Addressing journalists after the party’s National Executive Council meeting in Abuja — attended by officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission — Baba-Ahmed dismissed reports claiming that Obi had left the Labour Party.
Baba-Ahmed said that to the best of their knowledge, Peter Obi, remains a member of the Labour Party and that nothing had changed, adding that if Obi were present, he would have moved his seat to the left for him.
He maintained that the party had overcome its internal challenges, noting that this development indicated better days ahead. He also described INEC’s presence at the meeting as a significant boost.
“The Labour Party has not reduced in any way. We have only increased in numbers. But with the submission of our leader, the National Secretary, we have gone through rough times, as is usual with political associations, and have emerged from it.
“The highlight and major turning point of this NEC meeting is the presence of INEC, which validates this sitting and justifies our presence here. As law-abiding citizens, we strictly go by what the law provides.
“This is a renewed drive for reconciliation, and I am here as a loyal party member to continue to open our arms to embrace new and existing members, to come back and reconcile with the party for the national assignment ahead of us,” he stated.
Commenting on the escalating insecurity in the country, the Labour Party chieftain recalled that they had previously warned Nigerians that such consequences were likely if the right leadership was not elected.
He said, “Only two days ago, a state of national emergency was declared in Nigeria. If you recall, we warned Nigeria and the world that this was likely to happen — and it is happening.
“Nigerians voted en masse for change, and something else happened. The result is what we saw two days ago: school abductions in hundreds, senior army officers killed publicly.
“These would never have happened if the Labour Party had formed the government of Nigeria.”
He added that the LP remained committed to workers’ welfare.
“It is the birthright of LP, among all political parties, to ensure decent and realistic living wages for all workers. This will play a key role from now until 2027 and beyond.”
Friday’s NEC meeting, chaired by National Chairman Julius Abure, formed part of ongoing efforts to settle the leadership dispute sparked by the controversial 2024 national convention in Nnewi, which divided the party into rival factions supported by key figures, including Peter Obi and Abia State Governor Alex Otti.
