Datti Baba-Ahmed has said Peter Obi remains a member of the Labour Party, dismissing claims that the former Anambra State governor had left the party.
He spoke with journalists on Friday after the party’s National Executive Council meeting in Abuja, which was monitored by officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission.
“To the best of our knowledge, our brother, His Excellency Peter Obi, is still a member of the Labour Party. Nothing has changed. If he were here now, I would have shifted my seat to the left for him,” he said.
Baba-Ahmed said the Labour Party had survived its recent internal troubles and was now moving toward a stronger and more united front. He noted that INEC’s presence at the meeting boosted confidence in the decisions reached.
He said, “The Labour Party has not reduced in any way. We have only increased in numbers. But with the submission of our leader, the National Secretary, we have gone through rough times, as is usual with political associations, and have emerged from it.
“The highlight and major turning point of this NEC meeting is the presence of INEC, which validates this sitting and justifies our presence here. As law-abiding citizens, we strictly go by what the law provides.
“This is a renewed drive for reconciliation, and I am here as a loyal party member to continue to open our arms to embrace new and existing members, to come back and reconcile with the party for the national assignment ahead of us.”
Speaking on the country’s rising security problems, Baba-Ahmed said Nigerians were now seeing the consequences of choosing the wrong leadership during the last general election.
He said, “Only two days ago, a state of national emergency was declared in Nigeria. If you recall, we warned Nigeria and the world that this was likely to happen — and it is happening.
“Nigerians voted en masse for change, and something else happened. The result is what we saw two days ago: school abductions in hundreds, senior army officers killed publicly.
“These would never have happened if the Labour Party had formed the government of Nigeria.”
He also said workers’ welfare would remain central to the party’s agenda. “It is the birthright of LP, among all political parties, to ensure decent and realistic living wages for all workers. This will play a key role from now until 2027 and beyond,” he added.
Friday’s NEC meeting, chaired by National Chairman Julius Abure, was part of ongoing efforts to resolve the leadership crisis caused by the disputed 2024 national convention in Nnewi, which left the party split into rival groups backed by figures such as Obi and Abia State Governor Alex Otti.
