The Labour Party has lost 21 lawmakers since the 2023 elections, a clear signal that the party’s grip is slipping fast — www.naijnaira.com reports.
According to News, the exits are as a result of deepening cracks in the party structure that once rode a wave of national enthusiasm.
Internal disputes, unclear ideology, and absence of central leadership have pushed many out, with most defectors joining either the PDP or APC.
The first to go was Senator Ezenwa Francis Onyewuchi from Imo East in July 2024, triggering what turned into a steady outflow.
He was followed by five members of the House: Chinedu Okere, Mathew Donatus, Bassey Akiba, Esosa Iyawe, and Alfred Iliya Ajang.
More lawmakers continued to exit, including Dalyop Chollom from Plateau, raising questions about the party’s future.
In Enugu, once a Labour Party stronghold, six state assembly members quit over dissatisfaction with leadership and direction.
Federal lawmakers from the same state — Dennis Agbo, Chidi Obetta, and Sunday Umeha — also exited.
Others like Malachi-Okey Onyechi and senators Ireti Kingibe and Neda Imasuen later followed the trend.
Two more Enugu reps, Chimaobi Atu and Paul Nnanchi, finalized their resignations in mid-2025.
The full list includes members from Imo, Kaduna, Cross River, Edo, Plateau, Enugu, and FCT, mostly aligning with parties closer to federal power.
According to Labour Party spokesman Obiorah Ifoh, legal action is being considered against defectors under Section 68(g) of the Constitution.
Ifoh called the move a betrayal, stating, “These defectors are betraying the voters’ trust.”
He also insisted that the party’s structural weaknesses weren’t to blame, but rather political self-preservation.
Professor Kamilu Sani Fage suggested the party’s 2023 breakthrough was built around Peter Obi, not institutional groundwork.
“Without Peter Obi’s personal appeal, there was never a real structure behind Labour Party’s success,” Fage told Daily Trust.
He added that without Obi or someone with similar clout, the party may not survive the next election cycle.
Talks are already circulating about a potential exit by both Peter Obi and Alex Otti, raising the stakes even higher.
Labour Party’s presidential ticket for 2027 is reportedly open, adding to speculation around Obi’s future.
Analysts say if both Obi and Otti pull out, the Labour Party may lose any remaining electoral leverage.
With the African Democratic Congress (ADC) gaining traction as a possible new coalition base, LP’s relevance appears to be shrinking.
Beyond LP, the ongoing party-hopping shows how unstable Nigeria’s political party system remains.
“In Nigeria, politicians switch parties not for ideology but for survival,” Ifoh noted.
Fage warned that mass movement toward ruling parties weakens democracy by eroding true opposition.
“This isn’t normal political alignment. It weakens electoral competition and undermines democratic accountability,” he said.
Article updated 2 months ago. Content is written and modified by multiple authors.
