The Labour Party has disclosed plans to expel its former presidential candidate, Peter Obi, over his involvement in an opposition coalition to unseat President Bola Tinubu.

The party’s National Publicity Secretary, Abayomi Arabambi, during a live appearance on Channels Television’s The Morning Brief on Tuesday, said Obi’s continued engagement with the coalition while still identifying as a Labour Party member was “unconstitutional” and “unacceptable.”

“Let me make it very clear: we are convening a NEC [National Executive Council] meeting where he [Obi] will be expelled. It is unconstitutional for you to belong to two political parties at a time. They have deceived him to their side, and there he shall remain,” Arabambi said.

The LP spokesman stressed that the NEC would recommend Obi’s expulsion, which would be formally ratified at the party’s convention per its constitution.

“Obi will be expelled from our party. He is no longer a member. It is not within his right to claim, ‘I am still a member of the Labour Party,’ and at the same time be hobnobbing with what we call the ‘yahoo yahoo’ coalition. We are not going to accept that,” he stated.

In a scathing assessment, Arabambi challenged public perceptions about Obi’s role in the party’s rise, saying: “I want to correct a very wrong notion—Obi did not make the Labour Party; the Labour Party made Peter Obi. It was just a chance of circumstance because of the #EndSARS protests and the failings of past administrations. Nigerians were simply tired.”

He maintained that the party’s integrity and goodwill provided Obi with the platform that elevated his political status in 2023.

“It’s because of our own integrity. That was what gave Obi what he is today. He should be banking on our goodwill, not the other way around. He started the crisis in the Labour Party,” he said.

Accusing Obi of authoritarian tendencies, Arabambi added, “If he can fight party members to do his will, then he is not fit to run the party.”

He also reiterated the party’s unified leadership, noting that, “Let me also make it clear: we do not have groups in the Labour Party. We have only one leadership under Julius Abure, our national chairman.”

Arabambi’s remarks followed a 48-hour ultimatum issued to Obi by the Julius Abure-led faction of the Labour Party, demanding he formally resign his membership over what they described as a “bromance” with the coalition.

In a statement dated 3 July, LP’s Obiora Ifoh said, “Labour Party is not part of the coalition. Therefore, any of our members who are part of the coalition are given within 48 hours to formally resign his membership of the party.

“Labour Party is not available for people with dual agendas or deceptive personas. We will not allow individuals to have one leg in our party and the other elsewhere.”

Ifoh accused members of the coalition of being opportunistic politicians “interested in relaunching themselves into the circle of power”.

This development followed the opposition coalition’s meeting on Wednesday, 2 July, in Abuja, where the ADC was adopted as its official platform for the 2027 elections.

The coalition named former Senate President David Mark as interim national chairman and ex-Osun governor Rauf Aregbesola as secretary.


The high-profile meeting saw attendance from several former and serving politicians, including Atiku Abubakar, Nasir El-Rufai, Rotimi Amaechi, Dino Melaye, Dele Momodu, Gabriel Suswam, Ireti Kingibe, Emeka Ihedioha, and Sadique Abubakar—alongside Obi.

Three members of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) have filed a suit, challenging the interim leadership of the party led by a former Senate President, David Mark, before a Federal High Court in Abuja.

In the suit filed on July 4, the plaintiffs, Adeyemi Emmanuel, Ayodeji Tolu, and Haruna Ismaila, are asking the court to determine the legality of the interim leadership of the ADC.

They hold that Nwosu lacks the right to convene either a National Working Committee (NWC) or National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting or any other since his tenure as national chairman has expired.

The plaintiffs also stated that interim executives “cannot and should not act” in a leadership capacity, noting that they were appointed by an illegal meeting organised by a former national chairman.

Among several reliefs sought, the plaintiffs are asking the court to declare the appointment of Mark, Aregbesola, and Abdullahi as “unconstitutional, unlawful, null, and void”.

They also prayed the court for an order restraining the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) “from recognising the fourth, fifth, and sixth defendants as the interim national chairman, national secretary, and national publicity secretary of the first defendant (ADC)”.

Opposition politicians unveiled the ADC on June 2nd as the platform to rally votes against President Bola Tinubu in the next elections.

Former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar, a former minister of transportation, Rotimi Amaechi; the presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP) in the 2023 elections, Peter Obi; and Nasir el-Rufai, former governor of Kaduna, are at the forefront of the opposition campaign.

The coalition appointed Mark and an ex-governor of Osun state, Rauf Aregbesola, as interim national chairman and secretary, respectively.

Bolaji Abdullahi, a former minister of sports, was appointed as the party’s spokesperson.

But since the unveiling, the development has continued to generate reactions across the country.

By Augustine Akhilomen

Last week sudden exit of the former Kano State governor, Dr. Abdullahi Ganduje as the National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) may not have come as a surprise to many political watchers considering the wave of corruption allegations leveled against him prior to his appointment as APC chair and also his alleged rejection of former Kano State Governor Rabiu Kwankwaso’s move to join the ruling party.

Since the formation of the APC in 2013, the party has had six national chairmen, most of whom left office under controversial circumstances.

The six chairmen are Chief Bisi Akande (2013–2014), Chief John Odigie-Oyegun (2014–2018), Comrade Adams Oshiomhole (2018–2020), Mai Mala Buni (2020–2022), Senator Abdullahi Adamu (2022–2023), and Dr. Abdullahi Umar Ganduje (2023–2025).

Adding fuel to the political intrigue are growing speculations that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu may be considering replacing Vice President Kashim Shettima with Kwankwaso as his running mate in 2027.

Even so, some APC stakeholders reportedly believe Kwankwaso carries greater electoral weight, particularly in Kano State, North west and in Northern Nigeria, than the current vice president.

This political scenario appears not to have gone down well with Ganduje, who has never been on good terms with Kwankwaso, his former boss. The strained relationship between Ganduje and Kwankwaso dates back to their time in Kano politics. Both men once shared a political alliance under the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), with Kwankwaso serving as governor between 1999 and 2003 and again from 2011 to 2015. Ganduje served as his deputy during the latter’s tenure.

Their political friendship soured after Ganduje succeeded Kwankwaso as governor in 2015 under the APC banner. Since then, the two have been bitter rivals, frequently clashing over Kano’s political influence.

It will be noted that Ganduje took over the reins of the APC chairmanship from Abdullahi Adamu in August 2023, in a move seen by President Bola Tinubu to consolidate his hold on the party. Since his emergence, there have been mounting calls within the party for the chairmanship seat to revert to the North Central geopolitical zone, from where the former Chairman, Adamu hails from.

Sources close to the party said that Ganduje, who hails from Kano in the Northwest region, was persuaded to resign amid growing internal opposition and strategic repositioning as APC looks ahead to the 2027 general elections.

The removal of Ganduje therefore comes amidst a backdrop of intense political maneuvering within the party with factions vying for influence and control ahead of the party’s critical electoral challenges.

In truth, since Ganduje’s appointment, internal opposition within the APC has steadily increased, with critics questioning his leadership style and ability to unify the diverse factions within the party. Hence, the party’s decision to accept Ganduje’s resignation without contest underscores the delicate balancing act the APC leadership is undertaking to maintain cohesion.

Ganduje’s sacking may also be interpreted as a gesture aimed at smoothing factional differences and avoiding protracted conflicts within the party ranks. “Ostensibly, the President supported his removal to strategically restructure the leadership of the party and put it on a sound footing ahead of the 2007 general elections. Ganduje’s poor leadership style and the many allegations against him by members did help matters”, says a top APC member who craved anonymity.

Reacting to the development, Ayobada Olushola, who is a political commentator, told Thepledge that the shift in leadership could signal a renewed focus on party unity and grassroots mobilization as APC prepares for the 2027 polls.

“The recent change in leadership within the APC marks more than just a personnel adjustment; it signals a strategic recalibration ahead of the 2027 general elections.

“There’s growing recognition that party unity will be crucial for electoral success, especially with shifting voter sentiments and increasing political awareness at the grassroots level. The leadership appears to be aligning its strategies to reconnect with the base, rebuild trust, and energize loyal supporters.

“What we’re likely to see in the coming months is a more coordinated push for grassroots mobilization, stronger party discipline, and a focus on inclusion across regional and ideological lines. The APC seems intent on presenting a cohesive front not just to win elections, but to restore credibility and confidence among its core supporters.”

The APC’s national executive council is expected to meet soon to formalize the appointment of the acting chairman and outline the roadmap towards electing a new leader.

Party insiders reveal that the leadership change is part of a broader strategy to re-energize the APC’s organizational structure and strengthen its electoral machinery.

Among those reportedly vying for the top party post is Senator Umar Tanko Al-Makura, a former governor of Nasarawa State. However, reports further suggested that influential party figures are now considering Senator George Akume, the current Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), as a potential candidate.

Another name on the list is Joshua Dariye, a seasoned politician from Plateau State and known ally of President Bola Tinubu, who is being speculated to emerge as the next APC national chairman. Both Dariye and Tinubu served as governors from 1999 to 2007, forging a political alliance that continues to influence party dynamics.

Dariye’s potential election is seen by many political analysts as a strategic move to consolidate support from the North Central region, which remains a vital electoral bloc for the APC.

Analysts say the trio face a structural challenge: the fact that APC governors currently lead their respective states. Since governors are traditionally recognized as party leaders in their states, this dynamic may complicate the trio’s chances.

Meanwhile, the Kano State Chairman of the New Nigeria People’s Party, NNPP, Hashimu Dungurawa, claimed that Ganduje was removed due to corruption allegations leveled against him by some candidates, as well as certain actions considered to be against the President and the party.

“Politically, we are not happy with Ganduje’s resignation, because he was doing what we wanted him to do there. He was working to ensure that APC and Tinubu do not succeed. From what he was doing—whether you like it or not—he was an enemy of Tinubu and APC.

“He started politicking without waiting for INEC, the body saddled with the responsibility of announcing the timetable for political activities. He went ahead to unilaterally adopt and endorse Tinubu, excluding his vice, Kashim Shettima. He has done a lot of damage to APC.

“Ganduje succeeded in technically destroying Tinubu. He didn’t resign; we believe Tinubu understood what he was doing, and that was why they removed him.

“If you are between 50 and 70 years old, you are on medical treatment almost every day. So why did he accept the appointment if he knew he was old? It’s not a matter of sickness. They simply realized he wanted to destroy their party, and that is why he was removed overnight,” the party chairman stated.

In his reaction, another political commentator, Dehinde Rabiu, stated that Ganduje paid the price for kicking against Kwanwaso’s potential move to the party. “The sacking of Ganduje shouldn’t come as a surprise to many of us because the handwriting was already written on the wall. His long-term disagreement with Kwankwaso and allegations of corruption played a key factor in his removal, and that is a sign that the party leader, I mean President Tinubu, is responsible for his removal.

“Again, the need to win the North in the 2027 election also contributed to his sack because Ganduje has few followers compared to Kwankwaso, who has even been tipped to be Tinubu’s potential vice president.”

Nevertheless, many political observers are keenly watching and waiting to see what the final outcome of the APC NEC meeting will be, going by the foregoing drama of Ganjuje’s sack. Beyond this new coalition, the African Democratic Congress (ADC) formed last week political heavyweights across the opposition parties, which observers argued would influence the choice of the next APC National Chairman.

But the ruling party will need a more vibrant and effective leader who will steer its ship and prepare it for the electoral battles ahead. A wrong pick may spell doom to the electoral fortunes of the APC while a right one will add value, prepare and unite the party for the battles ahead.