Labour Party Faction Moves to Expel Peter Obi Over Alleged Anti-Party Activities

By Kamal Yalwa: Abuja | July 8, 2025

Abayomi Arabambi, the factional National Publicity Secretary of the Labour Party (LP), has declared that the party’s 2023 presidential flagbearer, Peter Obi, will soon be formally expelled for alleged anti-party activities.

In a strongly worded statement, Arabambi accused Obi of fraternising with rival political platforms, a move he described as unconstitutional and disloyal. He insisted that Obi had already been suspended before further engaging in acts that contradict the party’s constitution.

“You don’t join a political party and at the same time put your leg in another. He knows it is unconstitutional to belong to two political parties,” Arabambi said.

He criticised Obi’s alleged association with what he called the “Yahoo Yahoo coalition”—a veiled reference to the new ADC-led opposition alliance featuring key figures like Atiku Abubakar, Nasir El-Rufai, Peter Obi, and others.

Arabambi also dismissed the legitimacy of any caretaker committees or parallel party structures formed under Obi’s influence, asserting that both the Labour Party’s internal constitution and Section 222 of the Nigerian Constitution prohibit such arrangements.

“We are convening a NEC meeting where he (Obi) will be expelled. The expulsion will be recommended at NEC and ratified at our national convention in line with our constitution,” he stated.

The statement further deepens the crisis within the Labour Party, which has been plagued by internal factional battles and leadership disputes since the conclusion of the 2023 elections.

While Peter Obi has yet to formally respond to these expulsion threats, his recent political moves, including attendance at opposition strategy meetings, have raised questions about his next political alignment ahead of the 2027 elections.

The Julius Abure-led LP faction, to which Arabambi belongs, insists it is the only constitutionally recognised leadership of the party. The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) is yet to issue an official statement regarding the legitimacy of either faction.