Adewale Adeoye, Executive Director of the Journalists for Democratic Rights (JODER), has spoken out about the challenges facing the Labour Party (LP) amid rumors of internal conflicts and political maneuvering.
His remarks came in response to claims made by political commentator and activist Deji Adeyanju, who suggested that LP had secretly agreed to an alliance with President Bola Tinubu ahead of the 2027 elections.
Speaking in an interview on TVC News from 7:10, Adeoye rejected this assertion, offering a more nuanced perspective on the party’s current dynamics and its future prospects.
According to Adeoye, the LP is currently dealing with a rift between its founding members and the influx of new members who joined the party following Peter Obi’s presidential bid in 2023.
He warned that this division poses a serious threat to the party’s unity and long-term survival. Adeoye noted that if LP fails to reconcile these conflicting factions, it could fade into irrelevance in Nigeria’s political landscape.
The most striking aspect of Adeoye’s comments was his assessment of Peter Obi’s central role in LP’s current prominence.
“There’s nothing in LP without Peter Obi, and I don’t think he’ll be there in 2027,” Adeoye remarked, stressing the extent to which the party relies on Obi’s popularity and influence.
He further speculated that Obi might not remain in the party by 2027, which would leave LP struggling to maintain its relevance without the political figure who helped propel it to national attention.