Former Labour Party (LP) vice-presidential candidate Datti Baba-Ahmed has dismissed viral claims that former Anambra State Governor Peter Obi has left the party, affirming on Friday that Obi remains a member in good standing.
Baba-Ahmed made the statement to journalists after the party’s National Executive Council (NEC) meeting in Abuja, which was attended by officials from the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
Addressing reports suggesting Obi had exited the LP, Baba-Ahmed said the claims were baseless.
“To the best of our knowledge, our brother, His Excellency Peter Obi, is still a member of the Labour Party. Nothing has changed. If he were here now, I would have shifted my seat to the left for him,” he stated.
He also praised INEC’s presence at the meeting, describing it as a symbolic validation of the party’s legitimacy and procedural compliance.
“The highlight and major turning point of this NEC meeting is the presence of INEC, which validates this sitting and justifies our presence here. We strictly go by what the law provides. As law-abiding citizens, we strictly follow the law,” Baba-Ahmed emphasized.
On the state of the Labour Party, he said the party has grown in numbers despite challenges:
“The Labour Party has not reduced in any way. We have only increased in numbers. We have gone through rough times, as is usual with political associations, and have emerged stronger,” he said, describing the NEC session as a renewed effort toward reconciliation and unity.
Turning to national issues, Baba-Ahmed criticized the current government’s handling of security challenges, noting that recent crises could have been avoided under an LP administration.
“Only two days ago, a national emergency was declared in Nigeria. We had warned the country and the world that this was likely to happen, and unfortunately, it is happening,” he said.
“School abductions in hundreds and the public killing of senior army officers are tragic outcomes that would not have occurred if the Labour Party had formed the government.”
On workers’ welfare, he reaffirmed the LP’s commitment to fair labor standards:
“It is the birthright of the Labour Party to ensure decent and realistic living wages for all workers. This will remain a key priority from now till 2027 and beyond.”
Friday’s NEC meeting, chaired by factional National Chairman Julius Abure, comes months after the controversial 2024 Labour Party national convention in Nnewi, which triggered a leadership split among top party figures.
