Peter Obi can leave Labour Party if he wants to – NLC

• Obi has been vocal about his dissatisfaction with the manner the convention was conducted despite his plea for wider consultation and an all-Inclusive exercise

The Nigeria Labour Congress says it won’t stand in the way of the presidential candidate of the Labour Party in the last general election, Peter Obi, if he decides to leave the party.

The leadership of the NLC said its grouse is with Julius Abure as national chairman of the Labour Party and would continue to do everything it can to remove him from the position.

Upah described the national convention that returned Abure to office as ‘illegal’, saying the union would never confer legitimacy or give recognition to his leadership.

He said, “Our position on this matter is clear and has not changed. Abure remains unknown to us. It is not a question of removal. As far as we know, he does not exist.”

Obi’s relationship with the leadership of the LP has become strained since the conduct of the party’s controversial convention in Nnewi, Anambra State.

Obi has been vocal about his dissatisfaction with the manner the convention was conducted despite his plea for wider consultation and an all-Inclusive exercise

The former Anambra governor, in an X Space session last Friday, expressed his frustrations.

Obi said he didn’t attend the national convention that got Julius Abure re-elected as the party’s national chairman because the party’s leadership failed to heed his appeal for wider consultation with relevant stakeholders before the exercise.

His comment has further sparked earlier speculations that the LP presidential candidate may have started shopping for a new platform despite being guaranteed the 2027 ticket at the convention.

But Upah said the issue of whether Obi should stay or leave the party should not be debated, saying the former governor was free to determine his destiny.

According to him, the NLC cannot stop the presidential candidate should he decide to defect to another political platform.

Upah described Obi as an asset, saying the congress would not stand in his way if he chose to leave.

“The right of choice is available to Mr Obi. If he chooses to leave the party, that is his preference. We can’t sit in judgment over him on that. But if he chooses to remain, of course, Peter Obi is an asset any day. I rest my case on that,” he said