As Nigerians prepare to vote in the crucial bye-elections on August 16, 2025, former Labour Party presidential candidate Peter Obi has sent a strong message to his followers: do not vote for the Labour Party. The reason? The party is currently embroiled in an internal crisis that has led to its candidates not being recognized by INEC in many constituencies across 16 states.
Obi, a key figure in Nigeria’s progressive political movement, took to his social media platform to clarify this stance, explaining that due to lingering disputes within the Labour Party, it is unable to present unified candidates under the electoral law’s recognition. He said, “Kindly note that because the Labour Party has no recognized candidates by INEC due to internal crisis, I humbly urge every member of Obidient and COPDEM families to go out and vote for the coalition political party, African Democratic Congress (ADC), in their respective states.”
The ADC, which is contesting two senatorial, five Federal House of Representatives, and nine State Assembly seats, is being positioned by Obi as the viable embodiment of the progressive coalition’s values and aspirations.
This call to vote for ADC exemplifies growing tensions within Nigeria’s opposition parties and reflects ongoing realignments as political players seek unity and effectiveness against the dominant APC and PDP parties.
In response, the Labour Party contested Obi’s directive, affirming that it remains on the ballot and urged its members to disregard Obi’s appeal. The dispute highlights the deep divisions complicating Nigeria’s political opposition landscape today.
The upcoming bye-elections are pivotal as they will determine the control of key legislative seats and set the tone for the 2027 general elections. Observers are watching closely to see whether Obi’s endorsement of ADC will translate into electoral success and broader opposition unity.
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