ABUJA — As opposition forces in Nigeria intensify efforts to reshape the political landscape ahead of the 2027 general elections, Labour Party chieftain and former Inter-Party Advisory Council (IPAC) Chairman, High Chief Peter Ameh, has defended Peter Obi’s role in the newly formed opposition coalition, dismissing calls for his resignation as baseless and politically motivated.
Ameh spoke during an interview on Newsnight, where he criticised the 48-hour ultimatum issued by the Julius Abure-led faction of the Labour Party demanding Obi’s resignation over his involvement in the African Democratic Congress (ADC)-led coalition.
“There’s no official record that Peter Obi has left the Labour Party,” Ameh stated. “He remains a member and has every right to engage in coalition talks aimed at rescuing the country.”
According to Ameh, the coalition, which includes top political figures such as Atiku Abubakar, Rotimi Amaechi, Rabiu Kwankwaso, David Mark, and others, represents a strategic and visionary alliance aimed at providing a credible alternative to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in 2027.
“What we’re seeing is not disloyalty—it’s leadership,” he said. “This is about unifying progressives to install a government that is fiscally responsible and people-focused.”
Ameh accused the Abure-led faction of spreading “factional noise” that does not reflect official party policy. He noted that the Nenadi Usman-led faction of the Labour Party, to which he belongs, supports Obi’s coalition efforts.
He further alleged that the APC and its allies are exploiting Labour Party’s internal divisions to undermine the credibility of the emerging opposition coalition.
“This is clearly an internal conflict playing out publicly,” he said. “But we should not confuse panic-driven reactions with the broader mission of saving Nigeria’s democracy.”
Ameh lauded Obi’s unique grassroots appeal, pointing to his 2023 presidential performance where he secured over six million votes without traditional political structures.
He also pushed back against comparisons to the 2015 APC merger, calling those alliances “opportunistic,” in contrast to the current coalition, which he said is “vision-driven” and built around shared values, not personal ambition.
“This is not about removing Tinubu for sport,” he noted. “It’s about rebuilding a government that works—socially inclusive, economically forward-looking, and accountable to the people.”
Responding to concerns about Obi’s potential one-term pledge and whether the North would trust such an offer, Ameh said the region understands genuine sacrifice and that Obi has demonstrated integrity in his intentions.
“Peter Obi is not in this for personal power. He’s in it to fix what’s broken,” he added.
As coalition talks continue, he confirmed that discussions remain open on issues like power rotation and candidate selection, but stressed that the overriding goal is unity and shared purpose.
“Peter Obi isn’t just welcome at the table—he helped build it,” Ameh concluded.
With internal party divisions widening and the 2027 elections looming, observers say the question now is not whether a new political force will emerge, but whether it can remain united and credible in the face of growing pressure.
