Former Labour Party National Chairman, Julius Abure, has declared that he will not support Peter Obi in the 2027 presidential election, accusing him of wasting the political goodwill and support that helped him achieve significant success in the 2023 polls. Abure made the position known in an interview with Punch on Sunday, arguing that the […]
Former Labour Party National Chairman, Julius Abure, has declared that he will not support Peter Obi in the 2027 presidential election, accusing him of wasting the political goodwill and support that helped him achieve significant success in the 2023 polls.
Abure made the position known in an interview with Punch on Sunday, arguing that the former Anambra State governor would struggle to reproduce his previous electoral performance because he had allegedly mismanaged the advantages he enjoyed before the last general election.
He accused Obi of squandering his goodwill, human capital and resources, insisting that the political gains accumulated during the 2023 campaign had not been properly sustained.
The former Labour Party chairman also rejected the possibility of supporting the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), where Obi is seeking to pursue his political ambition ahead of the 2027 presidential election.
Abure, however, disclosed that his political camp had yet to decide which presidential candidate to support, explaining that the ongoing Supreme Court dispute over the leadership of the Labour Party remained an important factor in their political calculations.
He said his group would consider offers from interested candidates if the Supreme Court failed to deliver its judgment before the end of November, adding that any eventual alliance must reflect their interests and political ideology.
According to him, the candidate must also be politically attractive and capable of winning public support, noting that his camp possesses a network of supporters who played important roles in Obi’s 2023 presidential campaign.
Abure emphasised that the decision would involve consultations with his followers because the choice of a candidate was not solely about his personal political preference but also the interests of those who supported his leadership.
He also questioned Obi’s leadership credentials, arguing that the former governor’s experience in the Labour Party had become a reference point for assessing his ability to manage a larger political structure.
The former LP chairman maintained that Obi’s conduct within the party had influenced public perceptions of his leadership capacity, suggesting that difficulties in managing a smaller political organisation could raise questions about his ability to govern a country.
He further claimed that Obi enjoyed greater political freedom and influence under his leadership in the Labour Party than he currently experiences in the NDC.
Abure specifically referenced Senator Seriake Dickson’s influence in the NDC, alleging that the former Bayelsa governor remained firmly in control of the party and was unwilling to relinquish its leadership.
The dispute between Abure, Obi and Abia State Governor Alex Otti dates back to September 2024, when the Labour Party appointed Nenadi Usman to head a caretaker committee following disagreements over the party’s leadership.
The committee was subsequently recognised by INEC and supported by court decisions, including a Court of Appeal judgment dismissing Abure’s attempt to overturn his removal as national chairman.
In April 2026, Usman was formally elected as the substantive national chairperson of the Labour Party, while Abure’s faction continued its legal battle over the leadership dispute.