Ahead of 2027, Ex-Labour Party Chair Julius Abure Open to Aligning with Tinubu or Atiku, Firmly Rules Out Peter Obi

‎by Mercy Emmanuel 

Ahead of 2027, Ex-Labour Party Chair Julius Abure Open to Aligning with Tinubu or Atiku, Firmly Rules Out Peter Obi

As the 2027 general elections draw near, the political rift within Nigeria’s opposition landscape has taken a sharp turn, with the immediate past National Chairman of the Labour Party, Julius Abure, officially cutting ties with his former presidential flagbearer, Peter Obi. In an exclusive interview, Abure declared that he will not support Obi’s bid under his new platform, the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), opting instead to consider strategic alignments with other major political figures, including President Bola Tinubu or former Vice President Atiku Abubakar.

‎For Abure, any future political alliance remains tied to an incoming Supreme Court ruling regarding the contested leadership of the Labour Party. However, he emphasized that if the apex court fails to deliver its judgment by the end of November, he and his loyalists will begin evaluating offers from interested contenders. He insisted that any potential partner must present a sellable candidacy that aligns with his group’s core interests and ideological principles, promising that the same organizational machinery that propelled Obi in 2023 will be mobilized once a decision is made.

‎Reflecting on the internal battles that fractured the Labour Party, Abure voiced sharp criticism over Obi’s handling of party affairs. He accused Obi and Abia State Governor Alex Otti of dismantling the party’s organizational structure from the ward level up to the national executive. According to Abure, Obi’s management of internal disputes exposed fundamental leadership flaws, arguing that an inability to manage micro-level party affairs raises questions about macro-level national governance. He added that by abandoning the campaign framework that helped yield over six million votes in 2023, Obi has effectively squandered his political momentum and will struggle to replicate his previous success.

‎Abure also pointed to Obi’s recent political transitions—moving toward the African Democratic Congress before ultimately joining the NDC—as evidence of persistent structural friction. He suggested that Obi would not enjoy the same operational latitude within the NDC as he did during his time with the Labour Party, noting that NDC national leader Senator Seriake Dickson remains firmly in control of the party hierarchy to prevent administrative instability.

Fish Tay: Discovering the Abundant Angling Tradition and Waterways of the River Tay

‎In response, both the NDC and Peter Obi’s campaign team firmly brushed off Abure’s declarations, maintaining that they have long moved past the former Labour Party chairman. Constance Ikokwu, spokesperson for the NDC Presidential Campaign Council, stated that Obi remains fully immersed in his nationwide campaign aimed at addressing critical national issues ahead of 2027, wishing Abure luck in his future political endeavors. Echoing her sentiments, Obi’s media aide, Idris Zekeri, noted that Abure’s stance appears driven by personal grievances rather than the national interest, reiterating that the campaign’s primary focus remains on reaching voters who prioritize competence, fairness, and structural reform.