Abayomi Arabambi says Abure, Governor Alex Otti, and party stakeholders have “in principle” aligned with Tinubu’s second-term ambition, rules out Peter Obi’s return to Labour Party

The National Vice Chairman of the Labour Party (LP) for the South-West, Abayomi Arabambi, has claimed that the party’s leadership structure, including Abia State Governor Alex Otti and LP National Chairman Julius Abure, has reached a consensus to support President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s re-election bid in 2027.

Arabambi made the statement during an interview on News Central on Thursday, insisting that the decision was based on political alignment with the South-West presidency and its expected eight-year cycle.

According to him, key stakeholders within the party have “agreed in principle” to back Tinubu’s second term ambition.

“Abure and Governor Alex Otti have all agreed in principle that we will support President Bola Ahmed Tinubu because this presidency belongs to the South-West, not to the South,” he said.

Arabambi also dismissed reports suggesting that former presidential candidate Peter Obi could return to the Labour Party, a move reportedly being pushed by former Finance Minister Nenadi Usman.

He insisted that Obi’s return was not possible, claiming the party has already moved beyond that chapter due to internal crises.

“Obi can never come back to the Labour Party, because we have an agreement, even with Governor Alex Otti. Because of the intractable crisis, because of what has happened in the Labour Party, we have all settled that we will support the second term and ambition of Mr President Bola Ahmed Tinubu only,” he stated.

Arabambi further alleged that Nenadi Usman is acting in support of Peter Obi’s political interests, accusing her of attempting to position him for another presidential ticket despite obstacles in other opposition platforms.

“Nenadi is just an appendage of Peter Obi. She’s only deceiving herself. She wants Obi as our Labour Party presidential candidate, and that is not going to work,” he said.

He urged her to abandon the idea, regardless of who he claimed was backing her efforts.