The Labour Party has debunked reports claiming it issued a 48-hour ultimatum to its 2023 presidential candidate, Peter Obi, to resign from the party over his participation in ongoing coalition discussions.
In a press statement signed by Ken Eluma Asogwa, Senior Special Assistant to Senator Nenadi Usman, Chairperson of the National Caretaker Committee (NCC), the party described the reports as “misleading” and reaffirmed its full support for Obi’s involvement in efforts to build a broader political coalition.
“Our attention has been drawn to misleading reports and commentaries suggesting that Mr. Peter Obi has been issued a 48-hour ultimatum to resign from the party following his participation in 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 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,” it added.
The party emphasized that Obi’s actions were fully backed by the current leadership, dismissing those behind the ultimatum claims as illegitimate actors with no authority in the party.
“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,” it said.
“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.”
The statement further noted that the current leadership, under Senator Nenadi Usman, is still working to repair the damage left behind by what it called “impostors.”
“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,” the party said.
It called on the media and the public to disregard such claims and rely only on the recognised leadership for official information.
“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,” the statement concluded.
