LP crisis: Datti attends Abure-led NEC meeting

Amid the deepening crisis in the Labour Party, its 2023 vice presidential candidate, Senator Datti Baba-Ahmed, has openly declared support for the Julius Abure-led National Working Committee by attending the faction’s National Executive Council (NEC) meeting on Monday. His attendance at the NEC meeting held at the party’s national secretariat in Utako, Abuja, is believed […]

Amid the deepening crisis in the Labour Party, its 2023 vice presidential candidate, Senator Datti Baba-Ahmed, has openly declared support for the Julius Abure-led National Working Committee by attending the faction’s National Executive Council (NEC) meeting on Monday.

His attendance at the NEC meeting held at the party’s national secretariat in Utako, Abuja, is believed to affirm his loyalty to the Abure camp, in contrast to the group loyal to the party’s 2023 presidential candidate, Peter Obi, which last week announced Senator Nenadi Usman as interim national chairman.

The Monday NEC meeting held at the party’s secretariat was attended by members of the National Working Committee, state chairmen, stakeholders, and co-opted NEC members.

Speaking at the meeting, Senator Baba-Ahmed said, “I am honoured to have the privilege of attending this important meeting. The Labour Party is not a party to walk away from. The successes and the history that the Labour Party of Nigeria has recorded are unique and unprecedented.”

While Obi has identified with the opposition coalition’s adoption of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) as its platform—though maintaining he remains in the LP—Senator Baba-Ahmed raised concerns about the wider political scheming underway across the country.

He said, “The act of state capture is a more onerous task than causing disunity and disaffection among and within political parties.”

Explaining his stance on the leadership crisis, he said, “I am here as a loyal party member. I am here as a peacemaker. I am also here to reconcile divergent opinions.”

On rumours about political alliances, Baba-Ahmed disclosed that he had turned down secret meetings aimed at drawing him into alternative political arrangements.

“I am very, very proud to say that I didn’t attend meetings of a certain attempt for coalition in Nigeria. Morally speaking, if your neighbourhood invites you to discuss security, you must attend. However, if you attend and you discuss other matters besides that, you are at liberty to restore yourself to your former position,” he said.

He added that although he had listened to coalition conversations, he remained firmly in the LP. “I have attended, and I have listened to the coalition agenda. Yet I still remain in the Labour Party. I am not one to walk into any political arrangements,” he said.

He urged LP members not to feel compelled into any alliances they are unsure of. “I call on all well-meaning politicians and members of the Labour Party not to walk and allow themselves to get into what they still are not comfortable with,” he advised.

“Having said that, I am here as a son of the Labour Party,” Datti stated.

In its resolutions, the NEC commended Baba-Ahmed for standing with the Abure-led leadership and for declaring his interest in the 2027 general election.

It also rejected the factional meeting held at Transcorp Hilton on July 18, where the Obi–Nenadi Usman group announced an interim National Working Committee.

On possible alliances ahead of the 2027 polls, the NEC ruled out coalition talks. “Labour Party will not be part of any coalition for the 2027 general election. NEC believes that the coalition of 2023 is bigger than any other coalition. We will therefore rebuild, reconcile, and consolidate the gains of the 2023 general election,” the communiqué stated.