Abure Warns NDC Against Ceding Excessive Influence to Peter Obi

Factional National Chairman of the Labour Party (LP), Julius Abure, has advised the leadership of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) not to concede excessive influence to former Anambra State Governor and NDC presidential candidate, Peter Obi, and his supporters.

 

Abure gave the warning in a statement issued on June 8, 2026, while reacting to reports of disagreements within the NDC over the allocation of elective positions following the party’s primaries.

 

The LP chairman said the decision of the NDC leadership, led by Senator Seriake Dickson, not to grant all positions sought by Obi’s supporters was a prudent move, drawing from the Labour Party’s experience during and after the 2023 general election.

 

According to him, several political office holders who emerged on the Labour Party platform later became involved in leadership disputes rather than contributing to the party’s growth.

 

“They say history usually repeats itself. Senator Dickson and Co have seen their trajectory and learnt from what happened to us,” Abure said.

 

He alleged that many politicians who benefited from the Labour Party’s platform eventually aligned with Obi and challenged the party’s leadership structure.

 

Abure claimed that the party leadership made considerable sacrifices ahead of the 2023 elections by accommodating the interests of Obi and many of his supporters.

 

“We only looked at his body language and obliged most of his supporters with tickets. Most of the tickets were given for free because we believed we were investing in those persons,” he stated.

 

The Labour Party chairman further alleged that some elected officials backed moves to challenge the party leadership after securing victory on the LP platform.

 

“All those elected under the party, Obi took them to fight the leadership of the party,” he said.

 

Abure argued that political parties must maintain a balance in the distribution of positions and influence among members to safeguard internal stability.

 

“It is very good for Seriake Dickson not to have given Obi supporters all they needed in the NDC. He needed to bring his own people so that when the chips are down, he will also have people that will speak and defend him,” he added.

 

He also accused the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) of contributing to the leadership crisis that later emerged within the Labour Party, alleging that some party leaders accepted claims that the tenure of the party’s executives had expired.

 

“The leaders, particularly Peter Obi and Alex Otti, decided to take over the leadership of the party,” Abure alleged.

 

He said his remarks were informed by questions from members of the public regarding how the Labour Party managed its relationship with Obi and his supporters during the 2022 and 2023 election cycle..