National Vice Chairman of the Labour Party (LP), Ceekay Igara, has downplayed concerns that recent defections to the African Democratic Congress (ADC) could undermine the party’s prospects in the 2027 general elections. Speaking on Arise TV, Igara emphasised that the LP’s 2023 electoral performance was anchored on a solid institutional foundation rather than solely on the influence of former presidential candidate Peter Obi.
“Peter Obi made tremendous contributions to the popularity of the Labour Party, but it was based on the solid foundation already laid by the party,” Igara said. “Out of 19 political parties, people assessed the options and chose Labour Party because they saw the structure we had.”
He revealed that Obi’s emergence as the party’s flagbearer followed intense internal negotiations, with several aspirants initially opposing his candidacy. “It was fought very hard to make him the candidate. He was not very popular within the party at the time because he had just joined. It took the intervention of the national leadership to persuade other aspirants to step down,” he explained.
Igara also attributed the surge in youth support during the 2023 elections to broader civic engagement, particularly the EndSARS movement. “The movement that supported us was already there. EndSARS aligned with Labour Party because of the groundwork we had done. That was why it became a movement,” he said.
On Obi’s reported alignment with another political platform, Igara suggested that the true test would be whether the same level of support could be replicated outside the Labour Party. “Now that he has moved on, let us see if what was achieved in 2023 can be replicated on another platform. That is when the difference will be clear,” he added.
He maintained that the party remains focused on consolidating its base ahead of the next election cycle. “We are working to strengthen the party to perform better than in 2023. Beyond the ‘Obedient’ enthusiasm, the real measure is electoral victory—how many governors did we win?” he queried.
The remarks come amid shifting alliances and ongoing recalibration within Nigeria’s opposition landscape as parties begin positioning ahead of the 2027 general elections.
