Labour Party Leadership Backs Tinubu for 2027 Re-election; Declares Peter Obi Will Not Return

LP Vice Chairman Abayomi Arabambi confirms the party will back President Tinubu in 2027, ruling out a return for Peter Obi amid internal leadership changes.

By: AXL Media

Published: Apr 16, 2026, 10:32 AM EDT

Source: Information for this report was sourced from The Sun Nigeria

Strategic Shift Toward Tinubu’s Second Term

In a significant realignment within Nigerian opposition politics, Abayomi Arabambi stated that the Labour Party (LP) leadership has reached an "in principle" agreement to support President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in the 2027 general elections. According to Arabambi, this decision is shared by influential party figures, including Abia State Governor Alex Otti and factional leader Julius Abure. He justified the move by arguing that the presidency belongs to the South-West region for a full eight-year cycle, rather than just the South at large.

Finality on Peter Obi's Candidacy

Arabambi was emphatic in his stance regarding the party’s 2023 presidential standard-bearer, Peter Obi, stating that the former Anambra State Governor would "never come back" to the Labour Party. He attributed this resolution to the party’s "intractable crisis" and a desire for stability through alignment with the current administration. Arabambi suggested that the decision to back Tinubu is settled among the party’s primary stakeholders, effectively closing the door on any negotiations regarding Obi’s return for the next election cycle.

Criticism of Internal Pro-Obi Factions

The Vice Chairman directed sharp criticism at former Finance Minister Nenadi Usman, accusing her of acting as a surrogate for Peter Obi’s interests. Arabambi dismissed her efforts to facilitate Obi's return as "deceiving herself," asserting that such maneuvers would fail to secure Obi the LP ticket or a viable path through the coalition-backed ADC. He urged Usman and her sponsors to "perish the thought" of reinstalling Obi as the party's leader.