The camp of Labour Party presidential candidate in the 2023 election, Peter Obi, has distanced itself from Monday’s reconciliation meeting between his former running mate, Dr. Datti Baba-Ahmed, and the Julius Abure-led leadership.
The Labour Party has been engulfed in a leadership crisis, which intensified in April after three members insisted they were the rightful leaders of the party.
This came after the Supreme Court disqualified Julius Abure, who is recognised by the Independent National Electoral Commission, as the party’s national chairman.
Lamidi Apapa further complicated the issue, insisting that as the most senior member of the Working Committee, he was the rightful man to head the party following the Supreme Court’s judgment.
Meanwhile, there is the Nenadi Usman-led faction of the party, which has the backing of the LP 2023 presidential candidate Peter Pbi and the Abia State Governor Alex Otti.
While reacting to the meeting between Abure and Datti Baba-Ahmed, the National Coordinator of the Obidient Movement Worldwide, Dr. Yunusa Tanko, told The PUNCH on Monday that the group remained firmly loyal to Governor Otti and the caretaker leadership headed by Senator Nenadi Usman.
“We are not aware of that particular meeting, but we are resolute. We will continue as Obidients to mobilise with His Excellency, Peter Obi. And we have also said that wherever he goes, that’s where we are going.
“Of course, Nigerians are aware, and you know very clearly that Obi is with Governor Alex Otti and the Senator Nenadi Usman caretaker committee. That is where we stand.
“Being the leader of the Obidient Movement, wherever he stands, that is where we stand. That is just what I know. We are not aware of any other arrangement.”
When informed that some notable Obidient loyalists, including Hajia Nana Kazauri, attended the meeting, Tanko clarified that she did so merely as an observer.
“She’s a sound Obidient member, and she remains one. It is necessary to make it clear so that we don’t have any form of misunderstanding. I can assure you that there is no single crack whatsoever. We stand solidly behind His Excellency, Peter Obi.
“It is also worthy to point out that there is an excellent working relationship between Datti Baba-Ahmed and Peter Obi. There is no single crack as being insinuated,” he said.
Asked whether Obi was aware of Datti’s visit to Abure, Tanko added, “As I told you before, we are not aware of such a meeting. But anybody who has a good idea or innovation to resolve the conflict for the good of everybody is at liberty to do so.”
