Labour Party Denies Plans to Expel Peter Obi, Labels Factional Claims as “Political Comedy”

The Labour Party (LP), led by Acting National Chairman Senator Nenadi Usman, has dismissed claims that it is planning a National Executive Council (NEC) meeting to expel its 2023 presidential candidate, Peter Obi.

The denial comes in response to comments made by Abayomi Arabambi, a former factional National Publicity Secretary, who on Tuesday told Channels Television that the party intended to expel Obi over his involvement in an opposition coalition.

Reacting to the statement, Ken Eluma Asogwa, Senior Special Adviser to the LP Acting National Chairman, issued a press release debunking the claim. He described those pushing the narrative as “political jesters” with no ties to the party, bent on causing confusion.

“The attention of the Labour Party has been drawn to plans by a group of political jesters—unknown to the Party but parading themselves as members—to convene a kangaroo meeting aimed at sowing confusion around Mr. Peter Obi’s coalition efforts,” the statement read.

“These impostors, acting for shadowy interests, plan to announce a fictitious expulsion of Mr. Obi—a move that is both illegal and laughable.”

The LP reiterated that Obi’s involvement in recent coalition-building activities had the full support of the party’s leadership. A prior statement dated May 25, 2025, had already affirmed this.

“We urge Nigerians to disregard the desperate noise from these political actors whose only relevance lies in attacking Mr. Obi. Once his next political move is finalized, their influence will vanish,” the party said.

The statement concluded by describing the expulsion claim as “the last kick of a dying horse,” and urged the media and public to ignore “the comedians of politics performing for their paymasters.”