The acting National Chairman of the Labour Party (LP), Senator Nenadi Usman, has reaffirmed the party’s support for its 2023 presidential candidate, Mr Peter Obi, over his involvement in the ongoing opposition coalition spearheaded by former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar.

In a statement issued on Thursday in Abuja by her Senior Special Adviser, Ken Asogwa, Usman described Mr Julius Abure — who had issued a 48-hour ultimatum for Obi to resign from the party — as a “jester”.

Abure and members of his faction’s National Working Committee (NWC) earlier on Thursday demanded Obi’s resignation for taking part in the coalition effort.

However, Usman dismissed the ultimatum, stating that those behind it are not recognised by either the Labour Party or the law. She noted that Abure and his allies had been removed by the Supreme Court and suspended from the party over alleged serial indiscipline and anti-party conduct.

According to her, Obi’s participation in the coalition talks had the full backing of the party.

Obi, alongside Atiku Abubakar, former Senate President David Mark, former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai and other prominent opposition figures, formally endorsed the African Democratic Congress (ADC) on Tuesday as a potential platform for the 2027 general elections.

“For the avoidance of doubt, the leadership of the Labour Party had, on 26 May, publicly declared its full support for Mr Obi’s involvement in coalition efforts aimed at creating a viable political alternative capable of rescuing Nigeria from the APC-led government,” Usman said.

“We reaffirm that Mr Peter Obi’s participation in the coalition activities, including the ADC’s unveiling, was undertaken with the full knowledge, consent and support of the Labour Party leadership.

“It is the remnants of the disorder and chaos left behind by these impostors that the current leadership continues to address,” she added.

Usman urged the public and media to disregard what she described as “distractions and mischief from these discredited elements.”

“For clarity, the only legitimate and authoritative source of information on the official position of the Labour Party remains the office of Senator Nenadi Usman, acting National Chairman,” the statement concluded.