The Deputy National Chairman of the Labour Party (LP), Dr Ayo Olorunfemi, on Monday called on Nigerian workers to support its bid to unseat President Bola Tinubu’s APC-led administration in the 2027 elections.
The party described the APC government as one that thrives on falsehood and has imposed insecurity and hardship on the country, saying it should not be allowed to continue in power beyond May 2027.
Olorunfemi stated that, contrary to popular belief, workers have constitutional rights to belong to any political party of their choice and can even hold executive roles, provided they resign or apply for leave of absence if they wish to contest for elective office.
He also emphasised that the party is now one indivisible family, and anyone making statements to the contrary was merely creating noise that would not affect the party’s focus as the 2027 election approaches.
Olorunfemi spoke at a briefing held at the secretariat of the Nigeria Union of Journalists, Ogun State Council, Oke Ilewo, Abeokuta.
He explained that the opposition party is now under one umbrella led by Julius Abure and that, in the spirit of ongoing reconciliation, its former factional chairman, Lamidi Apapa, has been appointed a member of the party’s Board of Trustees.
Similarly, the party’s former National Publicity Secretary, Abayomi Arabambi, has been appointed acting Vice Chairman for the Southwest, pending ratification at the forthcoming National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting.
Olorunfemi said he was in the state to sensitise party members on the forthcoming ward, local, and state congresses, scheduled for December 2, 4, and 6 respectively, urging widespread participation.
He further stressed that as the party begins the journey to restrategise and strengthen itself for the 2027 election, Nigerian workers should join the opposition to address the hardships imposed by the APC-led government.
Olorunfemi said, “The constitution allows freedom of association with any political party or trade union. A recent Supreme Court judgment also affirmed that civil servants cannot be prohibited from joining political parties of their choice.
“There is no provision barring civil servants from party membership. They can even hold party positions, but to contest elective offices, they must apply for leave of absence or resign.
“We are calling on the Nigerian workforce to join the Labour Party, represent their wards, local governments, and states. They should pool their strength and wisdom to rescue the nation from the clueless APC government.
“Rather than merely striking or protesting, workers in government will be directly involved in governance, and their unions will be consulted on key national issues.
“To be free from hardship, insecurity, and falsehood, workers must join the Labour Party, which shares their ideology. They should not remain loyal to the party of their state governor if it does not prioritise their welfare. Workers must team with us to send APC packing in 2027. Enough is enough.”
On the unity of the party, Olorunfemi said, “Labour Party is now one, with no divisions. Anyone claiming otherwise has no place in the party. Such ‘market noise’ cannot distract our members.
“Those making noise were given tickets in the last election and then formed factions. Being given a party ticket does not confer a leadership position. The party alone determines its leadership.
“The Supreme Court has made it clear that courts should not entertain disputes over party leadership. Julius Abure and his team were duly elected to the NWC, and no court has invalidated the convention. That convention is sacrosanct under the law, as affirmed by the Supreme Court.”
Abayomi Arabambi, speaking at the event, thanked the party for the new appointments and pledged to work diligently to make LP the party to beat in Ogun State in 2027. He described Governor Dapo Abiodun’s administration as incompetent and promised that an LP government would be transparent, responsible, and prioritise citizens’ welfare.
Since 2022, the Labour Party has been home to over six million ardent followers of Peter Obi, according to the 2023 Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) results. LP secured 6,101,533 votes, winning 11 states, including Lagos and the Federal Capital Territory, and 25.4% of total votes cast.
The party also won the Abia State governorship election, 34 House of Representatives seats, and seven senatorial seats out of 109. Overall, LP came third behind APC, which received 8,794,726 votes (36.61%), and PDP, which garnered 6,984,520 votes (29.07%).
However, since the 2023 elections, LP has faced internal leadership crises. While Abure leads one faction, former Finance Minister Nenadi Usman heads another. This division is viewed as a potential threat to LP’s ambition of dislodging the APC in 2027.
