The  factional National Chairman of the Labour Party, Barrister Julius Abure, has cautioned the leadership of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) to exercise caution in its relationship with the 2027 presidential candidate of the party, Peter Obi, and his supporters, alleging that their political approach has historically been geared toward taking control of parties that provide them with political platforms.

Abure made the remarks in a statement issued on Monday, where he reflected on the Labour Party’s experience during and after the 2023 general elections. According to him, the developments that followed Peter Obi’s emergence as the party’s presidential candidate offer important lessons for other political parties, particularly the NDC under the leadership of former Bayelsa State Governor, Senator Seriake Dickson.

The Labour Party chairman said reports suggesting that the NDC leadership had resisted demands to hand over all key elective positions to Obi’s loyalists were commendable, arguing that such a decision could help preserve internal balance and prevent the concentration of power within a single political bloc.

Drawing parallels with what transpired in the Labour Party, Abure claimed that many politicians who secured electoral victories under the party’s platform later shifted their focus from strengthening the party to contesting its leadership structure.

According to him, rather than working with the party leadership to build a sustainable political institution after the elections, several beneficiaries of the Labour Party’s support allegedly became involved in efforts aimed at controlling the party machinery.

Abure stated that the Labour Party had made considerable sacrifices during the 2022/2023 election cycle to accommodate Peter Obi and his supporters, believing that such efforts would ultimately strengthen the party and position it as a formidable political force in Nigeria.

He, however, expressed disappointment that many of those who benefited from the party’s support allegedly turned against its leadership once they assumed public office.

“History often repeats itself,” Abure said, arguing that political leaders who closely observed the Labour Party’s trajectory would understand the importance of maintaining institutional safeguards within their parties.

He suggested that Senator Dickson and the NDC leadership may have learned from the Labour Party’s experience and were therefore taking steps to ensure that no single group dominates the party structure.

According to Abure, political parties must strike a balance between accommodating new entrants and protecting their existing structures.

He argued that handing over all strategic positions within a party to one political tendency could weaken internal cohesion and create future conflicts.

The Labour Party chairman alleged that after Peter Obi joined the party ahead of the 2023 elections, numerous candidates and supporters associated with him were granted opportunities to contest elections under the Labour Party platform, often without the usual financial requirements attached to party nominations.

Abure said the party leadership took those decisions in good faith, believing that it was investing in individuals who would later contribute to the growth and development of the party.

He explained that many of the nominations and tickets granted during the period were offered either free of charge or at highly subsidised rates because the party was focused on expanding its political influence and giving credible candidates opportunities to contest elections.

According to him, the expectation was that elected officials would, in return, support the party institutionally and financially after assuming office.

Instead, he claimed, many of those elected under the Labour Party banner aligned themselves with efforts to challenge the authority of the party leadership.

Abure further alleged that some elected officials joined campaigns aimed at restructuring or dissolving the party’s existing leadership framework, rather than helping to consolidate its achievements.

He maintained that this experience should serve as a lesson for other political organisations seeking to build sustainable institutions.

The Labour Party chairman also referenced the role of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in the party’s internal disputes, claiming that some party leaders accepted the commission’s position regarding the tenure of the party executive without adequately questioning its implications.

According to him, Labour Party stakeholders should have recognised the broader political context surrounding those developments and acted to defend the party’s leadership structure.

Abure alleged that instead of rallying behind the party, some prominent figures within the Labour Party, including Peter Obi and Abia State Governor Alex Otti, became involved in efforts to assume control of the party’s leadership.

He argued that these actions deepened divisions within the party and undermined efforts to build a united opposition platform.

The Labour Party chairman further claimed that elected representatives who emerged on the party’s platform had not contributed meaningfully to the party’s development since assuming office.

According to him, despite spending years in the National Assembly and other public offices, many officeholders elected under the Labour Party had failed to provide the level of institutional support the party expected.

Abure said this perceived lack of commitment reinforced the need for political parties to establish clear structures and safeguards that would ensure accountability from candidates and elected officials.

He insisted that political parties should not become mere vehicles for winning elections but should be developed as enduring institutions capable of outliving individual political ambitions.

While acknowledging the right of political actors to pursue their interests, Abure advised the NDC leadership to ensure that party decisions are guided by long-term institutional considerations rather than short-term political calculations.

He argued that maintaining a balance of interests within a party is essential for stability and survival.

According to him, any political party that ignores lessons from recent political developments risks repeating the mistakes that contributed to internal crises elsewhere.

Abure concluded by urging the NDC leadership to remain vigilant and avoid creating conditions that could allow any group to dominate the party structure at the expense of its broader membership.

He maintained that political parties must prioritize unity, internal democracy, and institutional strength if they hope to remain relevant and effective in Nigeria’s evolving political landscape.