The Interim National Secretary of the Labour Party (LP), Darlington Nwokocha, has firmly denied the party’s involvement in any political coalition formed to challenge the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the upcoming 2027 general elections.
Appearing on Channels Television on Friday, Nwokocha addressed widespread speculation suggesting that key opposition leaders—including Peter Obi, Atiku Abubakar, and Nasir El-Rufai—were aligning under the African Democratic Congress (ADC) banner in preparation for a united political front against the APC.
No Official Coalition, Labour Party Says
According to Nwokocha, the Labour Party has not received any formal invitation nor participated in talks involving such a coalition. He emphasized that while Peter Obi, the party’s 2023 presidential candidate, remains a respected member, his personal engagements should not be misconstrued as a party position or endorsement.
“I’m not aware of any such coalition. Nobody has informed me that the Labour Party is involved. If people are forming alliances, that’s their business. Peter Obi is free to associate with others, but that does not mean the Labour Party is a part of it,” Nwokocha said.
He reiterated that the Labour Party operates as a self-sufficient entity with a growing internal structure and does not rely on external alliances for its political strategy.
“We already have our internal mechanisms. The Labour Party is becoming stronger every day,” he added.
Peter Obi’s Involvement is Personal, Not Institutional
While acknowledging Peter Obi’s continued relevance within the party, Nwokocha drew a clear line between Obi’s individual engagements and the party's official stance.
“Peter Obi remains a respected figure as our former presidential flagbearer, but his participation in inter-party dialogues does not automatically bind the party to any emerging coalition. He is free to share ideas and consult widely, as any mature political figure should,” he explained.
Leadership Crisis: Abure’s Tenure Is Over, Says Nwokocha
Addressing the internal leadership tussle rocking the Labour Party, Nwokocha declared that Julius Abure’s tenure as National Chairman had come to a constitutional end. He further described the emergence of the interim leadership as a response to both a lapse in tenure and what he termed a "political accident" that necessitated change.
“Abure was indeed the National Chairman. But once your tenure expires, that's the end of the road. No one stays in office indefinitely. And when political disruptions occur what I call political accidents the interim leadership steps in to prevent a vacuum,” Nwokocha noted.
INEC Recognition Doesn’t Equate to Authority, LP Insists
When asked why INEC still lists Julius Abure as the party’s chairman on its official portal, Nwokocha dismissed it as a superficial gesture, asserting that actual recognition lies in participation and access.
“Putting someone’s picture on a website doesn’t make them the legitimate leader. INEC has not allowed him into meetings. He has made attempts to assert his role, but he has been consistently shut out,” he claimed.
Governor Alex Otti’s Role in NEC Clarified
Nwokocha also clarified the presence and role of Abia State Governor, Alex Otti, at the recent National Executive Council (NEC) meeting of the party. He explained that under the Labour Party’s constitution, elected governors and their deputies automatically qualify as statutory NEC members.
“Governor Otti is a legitimate NEC member. Our constitution states that after the National Convention, the next organ is the NEC, followed by the National Working Committee (NWC). Since the previous NWC was dissolved, the NEC now functions as the party’s highest decision-making body,” he said.
He added that the NEC is currently composed of representatives from the European Union Congress (EUC), the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), and elected state leaders like governors and their deputies.
Post a Comment