The Labour Party (LP), under the leadership of Barr. Julius Abure, has called on the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and its 2023 presidential candidate, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, to stop blaming President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for the internal crisis plaguing the opposition party, stating that the turmoil is self-inflicted.
LP further advised PDP to withdraw from contesting the 2027 presidential election, arguing that the once-dominant political party has lost direction and focus and is no longer a viable alternative for Nigerians.
LP Highlights PDP’s Leadership Crisis
In a statement released on Friday by Labour Party’s National Publicity Secretary, Dr. Abayomi Arabambi, the party pointed to the violent clash at the PDP’s Abuja headquarters during a Board of Trustees (BoT) meeting, where Samuel Anyanwu and Ude-Okoye both laid claim to the position of National Secretary.
LP also referenced Atiku Abubakar’s allegation that opposition leaders were each paid ₦50 million by the central government to weaken democracy. The party argued that PDP’s ongoing leadership struggles indicate that it can no longer provide the much-needed leadership for Nigeria.
Labour Party: PDP Should Align with Peter Obi in 2027
Arabambi declared that since PDP has failed to unite itself since losing power in 2015, it is highly unlikely that the party would be able to reclaim the presidency in 2027. Instead, LP suggested that PDP should join forces with Peter Obi and the Labour Party to form a stronger coalition against the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
"Given the precarious situation of the PDP today, the smartest move for the once-powerful party is to heed this advice, step aside from the next presidential election, and align with Labour Party and Peter Obi to build a formidable force to wrest power from the APC in 2027," Arabambi stated.
PDP, LP Must Avoid 2023 Mistake—Arabambi
Arabambi emphasized that LP’s six million votes in the 2023 presidential election proved the party's growing influence, and if PDP and LP had worked together, they could have defeated APC.
"We do not want what happened in 2023 to repeat itself in 2027. The PDP and LP went separate ways and divided their votes, allowing APC to retain power. If they had united, their combined votes would have been enough to defeat the ruling party."
He also dismissed Atiku Abubakar’s claims that President Tinubu is responsible for PDP’s troubles, calling them misguided.
"Nigerians should not listen to Atiku Abubakar blaming Tinubu for the PDP’s woes. The party’s crisis is self-inflicted. Has Atiku been around to organize the party? He is not serious," Arabambi added.
What’s Next for the Opposition?
With the 2027 general election approaching, the opposition landscape remains uncertain. The Labour Party’s call for unity signals a potential realignment of political forces, but whether PDP will heed the advice and step aside remains to be seen.
As both parties navigate their political strategies, Nigerians will be watching closely to see if a stronger opposition coalition can emerge to challenge APC’s hold on power.
