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From Sola Ojo, Abuja
The defection of former Labour Party presidential candidate, Peter Obi, to an emerging opposition coalition African Democratic Congress (ADC) on Wednesday December 31, 2025, has further exposed deep ideological and leadership rifts within the party, with senior figures offering sharply contrasting interpretations of the move.
Peter Obi, who flew the Labour Party flag in the 2023 presidential election, officially aligned with a coalition of opposition politicians seeking to challenge the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) ahead of the 2027 general election.
The decision has triggered intense reactions within the Labour Party and the Obidient Movement, the support base that emerged around Obi’s candidacy.
Reacting to the development, Deputy National Chairman of the Labour Party, Dr. Ayo Olorunfemi, described Obi’s exit as unsurprising, arguing that the former Anambra State governor was never ideologically aligned with the party.
According to Olorunfemi, Obi’s policy orientation placed him firmly within the capitalist school of thought, contrary to the Labour Party’s ideological foundation.
He cited Obi’s support for the removal of fuel subsidy as a major point of divergence.
“From the onset, his approach to development showed that he belonged to the capitalist school of thought.
“This was evident in his support for the removal of fuel subsidy, a position that was clearly against the core ideology of the Labour Party, and one we openly opposed,” he said.
Olorunfemi further alleged that Obi joined a party that was already well-structured but attempted to dominate it.
“He came into a party that was already established and attempted to hijack its structure.
“That is undemocratic. In the process, he alienated the party’s leadership and projected himself as a totalitarian figure,” he stated.
He stressed that Obi was never the leader of the Labour Party but merely contested elections on its platform.
To him, “He was a platform candidate, not the leader of the Labour Party. He tried to take advantage of the accommodation extended to him to seize control of the party, but we resisted.”
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While wishing Obi well in his future political pursuits, Olorunfemi said his exit simply showed an inability to submit to party authority.
“If he has decided to leave, we have no problem with that. It simply shows that he could not subject himself to the Labour Party’s internal authority,” he added.
However, an opposing view emerged from within the Obidient Movement, where a chieftain and loyalist of Obi, Elder Yusuf Danbaki dismissed claims that the defection weakens the Labour Party or amounts to rebellion.
The Obi loyalist argued that Obi remains an individual political actor pursuing the same presidential ambition he held in 2023, this time through a coalition arrangement that had the consent of Labour Party leaders.
“Peter Obi is an individual and a presidential candidate from the 2023 election who is still seeking the same office.
“There is now a coalition, and the Labour Party permitted him to be part of it. He has gone into that coalition to compete with other aspirants for the presidential ticket,” Danbaki added.
He maintained that Obi acted with the blessings of key party leaders, particularly Abia State Governor, Senator Alex Otti.
“He has the blessings of the leaders of the Labour Party. He has been given the go-ahead, and we wish him well wherever he is going,” he stated.
The loyalist urged Nigerians to wait for the outcome of the coalition’s primary process, noting that it would ultimately determine Obi’s political future.
Addressing claims that Senator Nenadi Usman had left the Labour Party, the Obidient chieftain insisted that she remains a prominent leader within the party.
He described the controversy surrounding Obi’s defection as premature and called for restraint among party stakeholders.
“This is politics. Alignments and coalitions are part of democratic competition. There is no need for unnecessary hostility,” he said.
