The Chairperson of the Labour Party (LP) in Lagos State, Dayo Ekong, has stated that the political influence of former LP presidential candidate Peter Obi has weakened in Nigeria.

In a post on her X account on Tuesday, Mrs. Ekong said it was time for Mr. Obi to “pause and ponder” on his ambition to contest for the presidency in 2027.

Mrs. Ekong traced Mr. Obi’s decline in influence to his recent political actions, including his opposition to the Julius Abure-led faction of the LP and his endorsements of candidates outside the party.

“Peter Obi’s influence in the Nigerian polity appears to be waning, as Nigerians grow increasingly tired and wary of what some perceive as inconsistent antics and political manoeuvring,” she wrote.

“His interventions, once seen as principled, now risk being viewed as disruptive and self-serving, alienating allies and diminishing his appeal.”

She cited recent electoral outcomes as evidence of this decline. According to Mrs. Ekong, Mr. Obi’s endorsements failed to deliver victories in Edo, Imo, and Anambra States.

She particularly highlighted the Onitsha North 1 State Constituency by-election in Anambra, describing it as a “telling blow.”

“Before the Onitsha North 1 rerun, Peter Obi abandoned the LP candidate and endorsed Justina Azuka of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), even donning an ADC-branded cap during campaigns,” she said. “Despite his support, the ADC candidate lost, and the LP candidate performed worse, while the APGA candidate won without Obi’s backing.”

Mrs. Ekong argued that such outcomes indicate a broader trend of diminishing political influence. She also criticized Mr. Obi for what she described as prioritizing personal alliances over party cohesion.

The LP chair advised Mr. Obi to reflect on the factors behind his declining influence. “A wise politician like Peter Obi, known for his prudence and vision, has suddenly lost so much appeal – even in his backyard,” she said. She added that ongoing tensions between Mr. Obi and the LP leadership could be limiting his support among Nigerians.

“Peter Obi has surrounded himself with those who he feels have his best interest at heart, but time will surely tell. The electorate is watching all these and slowly making up their minds against 2027,” Mrs. Ekong stated.

The LP has been embroiled in a leadership crisis that has split the party into factions. While Mr. Abure leads one faction, Mr. Obi and Peter Otti belong to another. Legal interventions have further complicated the issue, with the Supreme Court ruling in April that the matter of party leadership is an internal affair, dismissing lower court decisions affirming Mr. Abure.

Amid these tensions, Mr. Obi and other opposition figures formed the National Opposition Coalition Group to challenge President Bola Tinubu in the 2027 elections, adopting the ADC as their platform. Mr. Obi maintains that this does not constitute anti-party activity because the election is yet to occur.