The Labour Party (LP)’s National Publicity Secretary, Abayomi Arabambi, has said that former presidential candidate Peter Obi will not secure the party’s ticket for the 2027 general elections.
Arabambi made this statement yesterday, during an interview on a television programme, where he stated that the LP could survive and thrive without Obi.
According to him, the political momentum the party gained in 2023 was largely driven by the #EndSARS movement and widespread public dissatisfaction with the past Buhari administration, not Obi’s personal influence.
“We are going to do our 2027 without Peter Obi; he will not have our ticket”, Arabambi stated.
His remarks come amid recent controversies surrounding Obi’s call during the August by-elections for his supporters to vote for candidates of the African Democratic Congress, (ADC).
The former Anambra State governor defended his position, explaining that the Labour Party did not field candidates in several constituencies. However, the party dismissed Obi’s comments as “false” and “anti-party”.
Arabambi further accused the LP’s Acting National Chairperson, Nenadi Usman, and activist A’isha Yesufu of aligning with Obi against the party’s interests, vowing that disciplinary actions would be taken. “Our plan is to get rid of these elements – people who are just an epitome of political extremism; we don’t want them in Labour Party. Now that they said they are going to ADC, we wish them well”, he stated.
He also challenged Obi to formally declare his exit from the Labour Party if he believed he could replicate the over seven million votes he polled in the 2023 presidential election without the platform.
“The momentum in 2023 was not because of Peter Obi, but because of #EndSARS. Obi only found Labour Party as a vehicle that could provide change, and he was just opportuned to be the Head”, Arabambi added.
