The Julius Abure-led faction of the Labour Party addressed inquiries regarding its 2023 presidential candidate, Peter Obi’s recent gatherings with political associates in Abuja.
In an interview on Saturday, the embattled LP chairman, Abure, expressed uncertainty about the discussions’ specifics, citing Obi’s failure to brief him on the outcomes. The media circulated images of Obi’s private discussions with three prominent figures from the Peoples Democratic Party, namely former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, former Governor of Jigawa State, Sule Lamido, and former Senate President, Bukola Saraki, on Monday.
This marks Obi’s initial engagement with his former political allies following his transition from the PDP to LP in May 2022. Abure emphasized the party’s confidence in maintaining stability within its ranks despite the meetings, underscoring Obi’s prerogative to network with associates and acquaintances across party lines.
In a conversation with PUNCH, Abure acknowledged the challenge of confirming the implications of the meetings at this juncture, awaiting further insight from Obi. However, he indicated the party’s willingness to support any alliance that promotes national advancement. Abure highlighted Obi’s inclination to engage with individuals from diverse backgrounds, citing his past interactions with figures like Wole Soyinka. He characterized Obi’s meeting with Atiku as another instance of such social engagements, possibly devoid of immediate political motives.
When pressed on his stance regarding a potential alliance between the PDP and LP leading up to the 2027 presidential election, Abure deferred, stating that such decisions were beyond his purview.