Edo Labour Party Blames Peter Obi for Lingering Party Crisis

The Edo State chapter of the Labour Party has claimed that the crisis troubling the party nationwide stems from the actions of its 2023 presidential candidate, Mr Peter Obi, rather than the party’s National Chairman, Barrister Julius Abure.

State chairman of the party, Hon Elizabeth Ativie, made the allegation on Monday during a press briefing in Benin City while reacting to comments by Ms Precious Oruche, popularly known as Mama P. Ativie accused Oruche of spreading false claims against Abure and the Labour Party leadership, including allegations that he was declared wanted by the police over forgery.

According to Ativie, Peter Obi’s inability to resolve post-primary election disputes across the country triggered much of the internal strife. She further alleged that the National Working Committee had unanimously agreed to zone the party’s Edo governorship ticket to Edo Central senatorial district, in line with similar moves by the APC and PDP. However, she claimed that Obi disregarded the decision by endorsing Barrister Olumide Akpata as the party’s governorship candidate during the 2024 election.

Ativie maintained that Obi, alongside Governor Alex Otti of Abia State, convened what she described as an “illegally expanded stakeholders meeting” in Umuahia on September 4, 2024. She alleged that the meeting was designed to remove a legally constituted NWC, a move that eventually split the party.

“The Labour Party crisis began with Peter Obi” Ativie said. “His desperation to take over the party has divided us. This is someone who received so much goodwill from our leadership yet chose to bite the very fingers that fed him. We stood by him through campaigns, legal battles and personal sacrifices. Unfortunately, his actions have shown that personal ambition matters more to him than the party or the country.”

The Edo LP chair concluded by warning Nigerians to be cautious of leaders who place personal ambition above collective progress, insisting that Peter Obi lacks the competence, character and capacity to drive the vision of a new Nigeria.