LP crisis: Peter Obi makes U-turn, endorses Julius Abure-led NWC

The 2023 Labour Party (LP) presidential candidate, Peter Obi, has endorsed the party’s national chairman, Julius Abure.

This followed Obi’s visit to the LP’s national headquarters in Abuja on a solidarity visit on Tuesday.

Obi was received by Abure and other party leaders.

This marks a change of heart for the former Anambra State governor, who earlier shunned the party’s controversial national convention, which was held in his home state, amid the leadership crisis that rocked the party.

During the visit, Obi also endorsed the newly elected National Working Committee (NWC) of the party led by Abure.

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He urged aggrieved party members to put the survival of Nigerians and Nigeria first above all other interests.

Obi said he was at the national secretariat on a visit to the chairman and would continue to strive to bring all warring parties over the crisis in the party to become united.

According to Obi, “For now, let us talk about how we are going to survive till then because we politicians always focus on the next election and not about human beings.

“For me, when they survive the next election, we can talk about the election. Let us focus on Nigeria and see that Nigeria works; if Nigeria is working, the Labour Party will work.”

Also speaking, Abure said the party’s NWC was appreciative of the visit of the party members and the presidential candidate.

He said it was high time the varying groups of dissenting voices over the Nnewi convention came together and set their personal interests aside and worked for a party that would make a good show in the next election season.

“I want to say this very clearly, the convention has come and gone; all those who are still angry with us over the Nnewi convention, we want to appeal to them to come together and work with us to build the party for a new Nigeria that has a vision.

“I believe very strongly that personal interests should be put aside in pursuit of a new Nigeria that will work for all,” Abure said.