Fresh controversy is brewing within the Labour Party as the party’s leadership has revealed plans to expel its 2023 presidential flagbearer, Mr. Peter Obi, over his involvement with a newly formed opposition coalition. The move, according to party chieftain Abayomi Arabambi, stems from what he described as Obi’s unconstitutional dual political allegiance.
Speaking during a live appearance on The Morning Brief, a Channels Television programme aired on Tuesday, Arabambi, who once served as the National Publicity Secretary of the Labour Party, accused Obi of aligning himself with a political coalition aimed at challenging President Bola Tinubu’s government, while still claiming membership of the Labour Party. He insisted that such a stance contradicts the party’s constitution and the legal framework guiding political association in Nigeria.
“We are convening a National Executive Council (NEC) meeting where he [Peter Obi] will be formally expelled from the party. It is unconstitutional to simultaneously belong to two political formations,” Arabambi declared. “They have lured him away into another group, and that’s where he belongs now. He cannot continue to eat from two plates.”
Arabambi explained that the NEC will deliberate on Obi’s status and recommend his expulsion for ratification during the party’s forthcoming national convention. He added that the Labour Party would not tolerate what he termed “political indiscipline,” stressing that every member must operate within the boundaries of the party’s constitution and the Electoral Act.
The controversy follows Obi’s recent association with the newly launched opposition coalition, reportedly comprising prominent figures from various political parties, civil society organisations, and former office holders. The group, according to its proponents, seeks to provide a united front to confront the policies and performance of the Tinubu-led administration.
Peter Obi, who ran on the Labour Party’s platform during the 2023 presidential election and finished third, has yet to formally respond to the expulsion threat. However, political analysts believe the development could widen existing cracks within the party and raise questions about Obi’s political future ahead of the 2027 general elections.
This isn’t the first time internal party disagreements have surfaced since the 2023 elections. The Labour Party has faced recurrent factional disputes, leadership tussles, and ideological divisions, all of which have complicated its efforts to consolidate as a formidable third force in Nigeria’s political landscape.
While the NEC meeting date is yet to be made public, party insiders suggest the move against Obi may trigger legal and political battles, especially given his popularity among grassroots supporters and segments of the youth population.
As the political drama unfolds, observers are watching closely to see whether the Labour Party will follow through with its threat and how Obi and his allies within the party might respond to what many perceive as an attempt to isolate one of its most influential figures.
