Edo LP Blames Peter Obi for Party’s Crisis

The Edo State chapter of the Labour Party (LP) has accused the party’s 2023 presidential candidate, Mr. Peter Obi, of being responsible for the leadership crisis rocking the party nationwide.

The State Chairman of LP, Hon. Elizabeth Ativie, made the allegation on Monday during a press briefing in Benin City, while reacting to claims made against the party’s National Chairman, Barr. Julius Abure, by a member of the party, Ms. Precious Oruche, also known as “Mama P.”

Ativie alleged that Ms. Oruche, in her social media posts, falsely accused Abure of frustrating Nigerians and being declared wanted by the police for forgery.

According to Ativie, the root of the crisis stems from Obi’s failure to address post-primary election disputes across the country.

She further alleged that Obi disregarded the party’s zoning arrangement during the 2024 Edo governorship election.

“The National Working Committee had agreed to zone the governorship ticket to Edo Central Senatorial District, in line with the decisions of the APC and PDP,” Ativie said.

“Instead of respecting that agreement, Peter Obi came to Benin and endorsed Barr. Olumide Akpata as the party’s governorship candidate.”

She also blamed Obi and Abia State Governor, Dr. Alex Otti, for convening what she described as an “illegally expanded stakeholders’ meeting” in Umuahia on September 4, 2024, with the aim of removing the legally constituted National Working Committee.

“Ever since that nocturnal meeting, the party became factionalised,” Ativie declared. “Obi’s desperation to control the soul of the party has thrown LP into crisis. Despite the goodwill he enjoyed from us, he has chosen to bite the fingers that fed him.”

The Edo LP chairman further claimed that Obi lacked the “competence, character and capacity” to lead Nigeria, warning Nigerians to be cautious about his ambitions.