- Party vows to expel any member doubling as coalition loyalist within 48 hours.
- Ifoh says Nigeria’s youth won’t find change in a coalition of “recycled politicians”.
The leadership of the Labour Party has asked its 2023 presidential candidate, Peter Obi, to resign from the party within 48 hours.
The demand, made on Thursday by the party’s spokesperson, Obiora Ifoh, follows Obi’s open association with a newly formed opposition coalition.
The Julius Abure-led faction of the Labour Party (LP) issued a 48-hour ultimatum to the former Anambra governor.
“Former presidential candidate of the Labour Party, Peter Gregory Obi, has received a 48-hour ultimatum to formally resign his membership of the Labour Party, having formally joined the coalition party,” the statement read.
The party claimed Obi has been lobbying some of its members behind closed doors to join him in the new group.
“We are aware of several nocturnal meetings between Peter Obi and some of our members, lobbying them to join him in his new party,” Ifoh said.
“We’re also aware that a number of them have refused to defect with him.”
He said the Labour Party had distanced itself from the coalition and would not tolerate any member trying to play on both sides.
“Labour Party has consistently said it is not part of the coalition, and therefore, any of our members who are part of the coalition are given 48 hours to formally resign their membership of the party,” he added.
He warned that the party would not serve as a shelter for politicians who, according to him, cannot make up their minds.
“Labour Party is not available for people with dual agenda, people with deceptive persona,” he said.
“The party will not avail itself to individuals who have one leg in one party and another leg elsewhere.”
“People who, in the morning, claim to be in the Labour Party and in the evening are in the coalition.”
He described the opposition alliance as a gathering of politicians who have lost relevance and are desperate to remain in the game.
“Nearly 70 percent of the Nigerian population are youths who are tired of the old order, tired of gerontocrats deciding their fate,” Ifoh said.
“The new Nigeria that the youths are dreaming of is not what can be realised from what we are seeing in the coalition.”
“These people are opportunistic politicians who are only interested in relaunching themselves into the circle of power — people who are desperate to continue holding on to power.”
Ifoh urged party members to remain focused, loyal and committed to the ideals of the Labour Party.
Reacting to the development, Obi on Thursday confirmed his involvement with the opposition alliance but said the move was not made lightly.
The former Anambra governor had also attended the unveiling of the coalition on Wednesday in Abuja.
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