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The Labour Party (LP) has said that the exit of its former presidential candidate, Peter Obi, created a major vacuum within the opposition party ahead of the 2027 elections.
The party’s National Publicity Secretary, Ken Asogwa, said this on Monday during an appearance on Channels Television while reacting to Obi’s recent alignment with the African Democratic Congress-led coalition.
Asogwa acknowledged Obi’s influence within the Labour Party, describing him as a major political figure whose departure left a significant gap in the party’s structure and support base.
“We can’t close our eyes to the fact that we lost Peter Obi, and he was a colossus within the party.
“So the last time I came here, I remember saying his departure left a void in the party,” Asogwa said.
He explained that the party had anticipated Obi’s exit long before it became official on December 31 and had already begun implementing measures to reduce the impact. According to him, rumours surrounding Obi’s planned departure had circulated before he eventually left, prompting the new party leadership to begin preparations to cushion the effect.
He said the Labour Party subsequently resumed rebuilding efforts to strengthen its structure and reposition the party politically.
“Before his departure, the rumour was already out there that he was leaving. Before he eventually left, the new leadership had already taken a number of steps to cushion the effects of that departure,” he stated.
Asogwa stated that the party also identified its strongest institutional support base in the Nigeria Labour Congress and the Trade Union Congress.
He explained that the current leadership had moved to reconnect with the labour unions after they had been alienated under the former party leadership.
The spokesperson maintained that the Labour Party still possesses the political capacity to produce another formidable presidential candidate ahead of the 2027 elections.
