The Labour Party (LP) faction led by Senator Nenadi Usman has dismissed the 48-hour ultimatum issued by the Julius Abure-led group demanding that Peter Obi, the party’s 2023 presidential candidate, resign due to his association with a new opposition alliance.
Earlier in the day, the Abure group had asked Obi to step down following his participation in the unveiling of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), which is affiliated with a coalition of opposition parties.
READ ALSO: Labour Party gives Peter Obi 48 hours to resign over coalition move
In a statement released by Eluma Asogwa, media adviser to Senator Usman, the caretaker leadership described the ultimatum as legally baseless and politically motivated.
“The attention of the Labour Party has been drawn to misleading reports and commentaries suggesting that His Excellency, Mr Peter Obi, has been issued a 48-hour ultimatum to resign from the party following his participation in the recent coalition talks and the unveiling of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) in Abuja,” the statement read.
“For the avoidance of doubt, the leadership of the Labour Party, on May 26, 2025, publicly declared its full support for Mr Peter Obi’s involvement in the coalition efforts aimed at creating a robust political alternative to rescue Nigeria from the disastrous misrule of the APC. That position has not changed.
“We wish to reaffirm that Mr Peter Obi’s participation in the coalition activities, including the ADC unveiling, was done with the full knowledge, approval, and support of the Labour Party leadership.
“The individuals claiming to have issued an ultimatum to Mr Obi are political jesters with no legitimate standing in the Labour Party.
“They are neither recognised by the party nor by the law, having long been sacked by the Supreme Court of Nigeria – the highest court in the land – and suspended from the party for their serial acts of indiscipline and anti-party activities.
“It is the remnants of the disorder and mess left behind by these impostors that the current leadership under Senator Nenadi Usman continues to clean.
“Therefore, members of the public, and especially the media, are urged to disregard the distractions and mischief from these discredited elements.
“For clarity, the only legitimate and authoritative source of information regarding the official position of the Labour Party on any matter remains the office of Senator Nenadi Usman, acting national chairman of the Labour Party.”
Back in May, Usman confirmed that Obi’s involvement in the coalition was officially endorsed by the party, with room for him to run on the LP platform in 2027 if the coalition effort fails.
The Labour Party has been mired in leadership conflicts, with Abure, Usman, Callistus Okafor, and Lamidi Apapa all laying claim to the chairmanship.
 faction led by Senator Nenadi Usman has dismissed the 48-hour ultimatum issued by the Julius Abure-led group demanding that Peter Obi, the party’s 2023 presidential candidate, resign due to his association with a new opposition alliance.){kind=link}