Labour Party’s Post-Obi Reality: Crisis, Survival Or Collapse?
Labour Party Without Peter Obi: What Next?
WHEN Peter Obi formally defected from the Labour Party (LP) to the African Democratic Congress (ADC) on 31 December 2025, the move came as little surprise to keen observers of Nigeria’s political landscape. Long before the announcement, events within the party had signposted a looming separation driven largely by deepening internal crises and unresolved leadership battles.
The clearest signal emerged in July 2025 when Obi aligned himself with a broad-based national opposition coalition that later adopted the ADC as its platform for the 2027 general elections. Although he initially remained a member of the LP, critics within the party accused him of anti-party activities. Obi, however, dismissed the claims, insisting his actions were in pursuit of a united opposition capable of challenging the ruling party.
Peter Obi’s Transformational Impact on LP
Before Obi’s entry into the Labour Party in 2022, the party occupied a marginal space in Nigeria’s political ecosystem. While it had previously tasted relevance under former Ondo State governor Olusegun Mimiko between 2009 and 2017, the LP had since faded into obscurity, lacking elected governors, senators, or a significant national structure.
Obi’s defection changed that narrative dramatically. His presidential candidacy in 2023 transformed the LP into a formidable political force almost overnight. Although he did not win the presidency, his campaign energized millions of Nigerians, particularly young voters, and translated into unexpected electoral gains.
The party won the governorship election in Abia State, secured seats in the Senate and House of Representatives, and dominated presidential results in much of the South-East. For many Nigerians, the Labour Party became synonymous with Peter Obi, his message, and the grassroots-driven Obidient Movement.
Leadership Crisis and Party Fragmentation
Despite its electoral gains, the Labour Party soon became engulfed in a debilitating leadership crisis. The dispute split the party into rival factions, with Julius Abure leading one side, while Obi and Abia State Governor Alex Otti aligned with the other.
In September 2024, a factional National Executive Committee sacked the Abure-led leadership and appointed a 29-member caretaker committee headed by former Finance Minister and ex-Senator Nenadi Usman. The committee was tasked with stabilising the party and organising fresh leadership elections within 90 days.
Legal battles followed. While the Court of Appeal initially recognised Abure as national chairman, the Supreme Court, on 4 April 2025, overturned the judgment, ruling that the appellate court lacked jurisdiction. The apex court upheld Usman’s appeal and dismissed Abure’s cross-appeal.
However, the Abure faction argued that the Supreme Court ruling did not explicitly remove them from office. The stalemate persisted until INEC officially recognised Nenadi Usman as the LP’s national chairperson, following a Federal High Court judgment affirming that Abure’s tenure had expired.
By then, the damage was already done. Several lawmakers elected under the LP banner in 2023 had defected to other parties, citing leadership uncertainty.
From Labour Party to ADC
Unlike Governor Otti, who chose to remain in the LP and work toward internal reforms, Obi moved fully into the ADC alongside key allies. Members of the Obidient Movement, as well as serving federal lawmakers from multiple parties, followed suit.
Many analysts believe Obi’s political relevance transcends party platforms. Former Ekiti State governor Ayo Fayose argued publicly that Obi could win an election under any party, describing him as the sole political “traction” within the ADC. Similarly, former LP spokesperson Kenneth Okonkwo insisted that Nigerians were loyal to Obi as an individual, not to any political party.
Labour Party’s Prospects Without Obi
Political analysts largely agree that Obi’s exit poses an existential threat to the Labour Party. Samuel Ololo, an Anambra-based analyst, described the party’s momentum as “completely gone,” arguing that LP has virtually disappeared from national political conversations since Obi’s defection.
Professor Jonah Onuoha of the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, echoed this view, likening the party’s condition to a relapse into political coma. While acknowledging Governor Otti’s continued membership, he argued that Otti’s influence remains largely regional and insufficient to sustain the party nationally.
Anthony Egobueze, an associate professor at Rivers State University, warned that Obi’s departure would trigger a mass migration of members to the ADC, further weakening the LP’s national outlook.
Conclusion
With its most influential figure gone, a fractured leadership, and dwindling relevance, the Labour Party faces a defining moment. Whether it can reinvent itself or fade into political irrelevance remains an open question, but for now, the shadow of Peter Obi looms large over its uncertain future.
