• Insists LP scored 10m votes in 2023 election
• We’re not in coalition, says Abure, warns against double loyalty

It was confusion on all fours within the Labour Party (LP), yesterday, as its 2023 vice presidential candidate, Dr Yusuf Datti Baba-Ahmed, made a dramatic appearance at the National Executive Council (NEC) meeting of the Julius Abure-led faction, days after showing presence at a meeting convened by a faction loyal to Sen Nenadi Usman.

Meanwhile, the Julius Abure-led faction of the party said it is not in any coalition ahead of the 2027 general elections. This was contained in a statement by Abureand the Secretary, Umar Ibrahim, after a National Executive Council (NEC) meeting yesterday in Abuja.

Datti’s double attendance stirred speculation within party ranks about his real political allegiance and reignited concerns about the future of LP as it eyes coalition talks ahead of the 2027 elections.

In his address to the Abure-led NEC in Abuja, he declared unwavering loyalty to the party and pledged to reconcile its deeply fractured leadership.

He said: “I remain in LP because I believe in its mission. I am here as a loyal member, a peacemaker and a reconciler,” he said, adding that the party is “not one to walk away from.”

However, party insiders say his earlier presence at the Usman-led meeting raised questions about whether he was playing a dual game or attempting to keep his options open in the face of increasing political uncertainty.

While insisting that his engagements in coalition talks were in good faith and motivated by concerns over national insecurity, Datti cautioned against being “led blindly into political arrangements,” drawing applause from some quarters but side glances from others.

“You must not sleepwalk into alliances you don’t fully understand,” he warned. “We’ve removed governments before, but what followed was worse. It is the kind of leadership that comes after that matters most.”

A party chieftain, who preferred anonymity, said: “There’s nothing wrong with Datti trying to unite us, but you can’t fraternise with two opposing factions and expect not to raise suspicion. He must come clean.”

Speaking more pointedly, a senior LP official cautioned: “The Constitution is clear. You cannot belong to two political families at once. Even the Bible says you cannot be hot and cold at the same time.”

The confusion is unfolding against the backdrop of ongoing discussions about a possible mega-coalition to unseat the All Progressives Congress (APC) in 2027.

Although Peter Obi has not publicly spoken on recent developments, Datti confirmed during the NEC meeting that his former running mate remains with LP, a statement some read as damage control.

“I come before you not just as a member, but as a loyal son of this great movement, standing firm in my belief that LP is not a party to walk away from. Our journey has been historic.

“The achievements of LP, particularly in the 2023 general elections, remain unprecedented. We presented clear evidence of having polled over 10 million votes, a feat unmatched by any third force in Nigeria’s democratic history. Though reduced in post-election adjustments, those votes represented the voice of Nigerians for change.”

According to him, what the party faces today, however, is not merely a political challenge, but the far more dangerous threat of state capture, which is far worse than any internal division or political disagreement.

On his part, Abure issued a stern warning to members fraternising with rival political camps, insisting that the party would not condone double loyalty or political “romancing” as it battles internal divisions and prepares for the 2027 general elections.
Abure indicated that while the Constitution guaranteed freedom of association, no one could simultaneously belong to two political platforms, politically or ideologically.