The factional National Vice Chairman (South-West) of the Labour Party, Abayomi Arabambi, has declared that the party’s 2023 presidential candidate, Peter Obi, can never return to the party.
Arabambi added that the faction led by Nenadi Usman might try to bring him back, but the leaders of the party have already taken a final position not to allow him back in their fold.
PrimeTimes Nigeria reports that he made the disclosure on Thursday during an interview with News Central on the build-up to the 2027 general elections.
“Nenadi will try, but Obi can never come back to Labour Party,” Arabambi declared.
According to him, the decision followed the party’s internal crisis and consultations among key figures, including the Julius Abure-led leadership and Abia State Governor, Alex Otti.
He disclosed that the Labour Party has also resolved to support the second-term ambition of President Bola Tinubu.
“Because of the intractable crisis… we have all settled that we will support the second term and ambition of Mr President Bola Ahmed Tinubu,” Arabambi stated.
On the possibility of Usman paving the way for Obi’s return, Arabambi asked her to perish such thoughts.
“She should perish that thought… that Peter Obi will come back into the Labour Party,” he said.
Arabambi also blamed Peter Obi and his supporters for the internal challenges that rocked the Labour Party during the 2023 election.
“They were the ones that messed up that election… It wasn’t Tinubu that made us lose 4.7 million votes from 53,000 polling units where they failed to feed the agents,” he said.
He affirmed that Obi won’t be making a return to the party to actualize his presidential ambition.
“We will not be beating the second time, once beaten twice shy,” Arabambi said.
He emphasized that the party would support President Tinubu’s 2027 bid.
“All of us are going to work for the emergence of President Tinubu for another four years,” he said.