The political camp of Labour Party (LP) presidential candidate in the 2023 election, Peter Obi, has disowned a reconciliation meeting held on Monday between Obi’s former running mate, Dr. Yusuf Datti Baba-Ahmed, and the Julius Abure-led faction of the party.
The meeting, which saw Datti publicly recognise Abure as the party’s authentic national chairman, has stirred controversy within the party, which has been riddled with leadership tussles since the Supreme Court ruled against Abure earlier this year. Despite the ruling, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) continues to recognise Abure as LP chairman.
Reacting to the development, the National Coordinator of the Obidient Movement Worldwide, Dr. Yunusa Tanko, declared that the group remained fully aligned with Peter Obi, Abia State Governor Alex Otti, and the caretaker committee led by Senator Nenadi Usman.
“We are not aware of that particular meeting,” Tanko told the media. “We will continue as Obidients to mobilise with His Excellency, Peter Obi. Wherever he goes, we go.”
Tanko emphasised that Obi’s camp does not acknowledge any arrangement outside the Nenadi-led faction and reaffirmed that the Obidient Movement remained intact, despite reports that some of its members attended the meeting with Abure.
When asked about Hajia Nana Kazauri, a known Obidient loyalist spotted at the meeting, Tanko clarified she was only there as an observer and maintained her loyalty to Obi.
“There is no crack within the movement. The relationship between Datti Baba-Ahmed and Peter Obi remains strong. However, we were not informed of this meeting,” he added.
During the meeting in Abuja, Datti Baba-Ahmed declared his support for Julius Abure, describing the Labour Party as too significant to abandon. He positioned himself as a reconciliator and called for unity among the various factions.
“We presented clear records and evidence of 10 million votes in the last election, later reduced to 6.1 million. I am here as a peacemaker to reconcile divergent opinions,” he said.
Datti noted that although he had attended talks about coalition-building elsewhere, he remained firmly with the LP. “If your neighbourhood invites you to discuss security, you must attend. But that doesn’t mean you must align with every conversation,” he explained.
He warned against alliances that do not reflect the party’s ideals and described the current government as a “disaster” that followed a coalition effort to unseat the previous administration.
He also acknowledged the factional divide in the LP but affirmed his continued support for Obi, saying, “My boss, Peter Obi, remains in the Labour Party.”
In response, Abure welcomed Datti’s support and extended a hand of reconciliation to Obi, Governor Otti, and other members who had aligned with the Nenadi Usman-led caretaker committee.
“We are using this opportunity to say our doors are open. If they return and apologise, we are ready to forgive because we believe there is no victor, no vanquished,” Abure said.
He maintained that the 2024 national convention in Nnewi, which produced his leadership, remains the party’s only legitimate gathering.
Abure also addressed criticisms following his recent visit to Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike — a move that raised suspicions of political realignment.
“I visited the FCT Minister because I live in Abuja. I have a right to interact with any government official. That visit was within my rights as a Nigerian,” Abure explained, dismissing speculations that the meeting indicated defection or hidden deals.
The Labour Party has remained fragmented since the Supreme Court disqualified Abure as national chairman. Lamidi Apapa, a senior member of the LP Working Committee, also claimed leadership of the party following the ruling.
The emergence of a caretaker committee led by Senator Nenadi Usman — reportedly backed by Peter Obi and Governor Alex Otti — has deepened the internal crisis, with no clear resolution in sight.
Despite Datti’s reconciliatory tone, Obi’s loyalists appear unmoved, making it uncertain whether the latest peace gesture will yield unity within the party.
