The National Secretary of the Labour Party (LP), Umar Farouk, loyal to factional chairman Julius Abure, has dismissed rumours that the party’s 2023 presidential candidate, Peter Obi, will contest in the 2027 presidential election.
Gossip News Now reports that Farouk’s statement comes just hours after Obi reaffirmed his membership in the Labour Party, insisting that his name would appear on the 2027 ballot.
Speaking during an interview on Trust TV on Thursday, Farouk claimed that while Obi continues to enjoy media attention, he has no intention of running for president again.
“I can tell you, Obi is not going to contest the presidential election. He is enjoying media publicity, but in 2027, he is not interested in it.
We have offered him the Labour Party’s presidential ticket, and he rejected it,” Farouk said.
Questions Over Obi’s Political Loyalty
The LP Secretary also raised concerns about Obi’s current political alignment, alleging that the former Anambra governor’s recent moves have created uncertainty about his true party affiliation.
“Look at what is happening — why is he in ADC? Why does he belong in PDP? In which political party does he belong?
Where will he get the ticket?” Farouk asked, referring to speculations linking Obi to meetings with other opposition blocs.
‘Opposition Too Weak to Challenge APC’
Farouk further argued that Nigeria’s opposition parties have become too weakened and disorganized to mount a serious challenge against the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) ahead of the next election.
“When you look at those people contesting with Tinubu, are these really opponents?
Except the referee wants to be giving them penalties — and even with that, some will still miss the penalties,” he said, using a football metaphor to illustrate what he described as the opposition’s poor coordination.
‘APC Not Responsible for Opposition Crisis’
Farouk rejected claims that the APC was behind the internal divisions plaguing opposition parties, especially the Labour Party.
“For us in the Labour Party, there is no reason for anyone to accuse the APC of interfering in our internal crisis.
We created our own problems and must solve them ourselves,” he added.
The comments from Farouk highlight the deepening internal rift within the Labour Party, particularly between the Abure-led faction and supporters of Peter Obi, who insist that the 2023 LP presidential candidate remains the party’s best hope for 2027.
