Crisis Deepens in Labour Party: Factional Leader Threatens Expulsion of Peter Obi, Governor Otti
The Labour Party (LP) is currently embroiled in an intensifying internal crisis, as Abayomi Arabambi, a factional leader and the self-proclaimed National Publicity Secretary of the party, has declared that the LP is preparing to formally expel its 2023 presidential candidate, Peter Obi, and Governor Alex Otti of Abia State.
Arabambi made this bold assertion during an interview on Television Continental (TVC), alleging that both Obi and Otti, along with others recently suspended, are fueling instability within the party. “These characters troubling our party are a few selfish Nigerians that are after their own personal aggrandisement. We will not allow them to ruin our party,” he stated, underscoring deepening factional battles.
He further insisted that only a national convention can restore order, hinting that the expulsion of the suspended individuals would be a central agenda. According to Arabambi, the party is already taking steps to execute this through an imminent convention.
“There can be only one solution which a national convention will soon unleash. It is to expel Peter Obi, Governor Alex Otti and others. They are currently under suspension. I assure you that they will be expelled soon,” he said.
Arabambi also disputed widely held beliefs regarding the leadership of the party, stating that the Supreme Court never removed Julius Abure as National Chairman, despite ongoing contestations from rival factions. This claim adds a new dimension to the already confusing leadership tussle, as multiple factions lay claim to the party’s authority.
Internal Suspensions Signal Power Struggle
The statement follows the party’s announcement on Wednesday that Governor Otti, Senator Ireti Kingibe, and four federal lawmakers had been indefinitely suspended for alleged anti-party activities. The suspended lawmakers include:
Senator Darlington Nwokocha
Hon. Victor Afam Ogene
Hon. Amobi Ogah
Hon. Seyi Sowunmi
The suspension, signed by the party’s National Secretary, Alhaji Umar Farouk Ibrahim, effectively bars these individuals from speaking or acting on behalf of the Labour Party. The list includes prominent figures who have previously played key roles in building the party’s recent popularity and national profile, especially following Peter Obi’s strong showing in the 2023 presidential election.
A Party at War With Itself
This latest round of suspensions and threats of expulsion signals a widening rift in the Labour Party, with major consequences for its future. Analysts warn that if unresolved, the crisis could fracture the party ahead of the 2027 general elections, weakening its ability to function as a credible opposition to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
Political observers are also questioning whether the move to expel Peter Obi the face of the party’s 2023 campaign and a major unifying figure among young Nigerian voters might backfire and alienate a large segment of the LP’s support base.
The factional feud raises larger questions about internal democracy, legitimacy, and leadership integrity within the Labour Party, further muddying the political waters for a party once hailed as a fresh alternative to Nigeria’s traditional power blocs.
Reference
Crisis Deepens in Labour Party: Factional Leader Threatens Expulsion of Peter Obi, Governor Otti