The Julius Abure-led National Working Committee of the Labour Party says it is excited with the prospect of having the party’s 2023 presidential candidate, Peter Obi, run again on the party’s platform in 2027.
The LP National Publicity Secretary, Obiora Ifoh, disclosed this in an interview with The PUNCH
He spoke on the backdrop of Obi’s declaration at the weekend that he intends to pursue his 2027 presidential ambition on the LP platform.
The LP is currently factionalised, with Obi and Abia State Governor, Alex Otti, backing Nenadi Usman to oust Abure from the party’s leadership position.
A recent Supreme Court judgment on the party’s leadership tussle did little to clarify or resolve the question of who the legitimate leader is.
However, the Independent National Electoral Commission affirmed the candidate put forward by the Abure camp for the upcoming Anambra State governorship election.
In spite of the leadership tussle, Obi declared he remained in the LP and would run for president on the party’s platform in 2027.
Asked for Abure’s reaction to Obi’s declaration, Ifoh said, “We are excited about the news. If we have waited all these while for two years with all the things that happened, we can still wait for tomorrow and the next, for the whole thing to crystallise. Then we can now begin to talk about the way forward.
“Let me start by saying politics is all about interest. The interest of every Nigerian, including the Labour Party, is to have a government that can help Nigerians come out of the doldrums and not enter into more crises, whether political, social or economic.
“I believe there are so many Nigerians who have that capacity and who can also help Nigeria come out. In 2023, we gave Peter Obi the ticket and he didn’t disappoint. Rather, the system disappointed them.”
When asked if Obi had reached out to Abure, Ifoh said the channel of communication between the duo was open.
According to him, the former Anambra governor still frequently has discussions with Abure despite the cold war between both parties.
“Well, as I said elsewhere, the line of communication is not completely blocked. There are talks, though not formal. But before the 2027 poll, don’t forget that we have Anambra elections a few months from now.
“Obi is from Anambra and we expect him to play a key role in making sure that the Labour Party wins the state. So, there has been rapprochement here and there. I think at the right time, the parties will meet and thrash all the differences. From there, we’ll move on.
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