Dare Babalola
The Labour Party (LP) has distanced itself from reports linking its leadership to recent opposition consultations held in Ibadan, describing such claims as misleading and unfounded.
Speaking to journalists on Monday at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, the Deputy Spokesperson of the House of Representatives and Chairman of the Labour Party National Convention Planning Committee Media Sub-Committee, Philip Agbese, clarified that the party was not involved in any coalition discussions ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Agbese explained that the party’s attention is currently fixed on its forthcoming national convention scheduled for April 28, as well as ongoing efforts to strengthen its internal structures.
“We were not part of any political summit in Ibadan. Our focus as a party is the national convention and consolidating our internal processes in preparation for the 2027 elections,” he stated.
The lawmaker, who recently left the All Progressives Congress (APC), stressed that the Labour Party is currently prioritising organisational stability, membership expansion, and the deepening of internal democracy.
According to him, any speculation about the party engaging in coalition negotiations at this stage is inaccurate, as internal restructuring remains its primary concern.
“Our immediate responsibility is to put our party in proper shape. The convention is central to that objective and forms part of a broader plan to reposition the Labour Party ahead of the next general elections,” he added.
Agbese further noted that sustainable political alliances can only be meaningful when parties have first established strong internal cohesion and discipline.
“Before any conversation about alliances or external engagements, a political party must ensure unity and structure within its ranks. That is what we are currently focused on,” he said.
He also cautioned against premature discussions on coalition-building, reiterating that the party is not distracted by such engagements at this time.
“At present, we are not engaged in any coalition talks. Our priority is clear: conduct a successful national convention, strengthen our systems, and prepare adequately for 2027,” he maintained.
Reports had suggested that leaders of several opposition parties, including the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), African Democratic Congress (ADC), and the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP), recently held strategic discussions in Ibadan on the possibility of fielding a united presidential candidate against the ruling party in 2027.
However, Agbese’s remarks indicate that the Labour Party is not part of such arrangements.
The Ibadan meeting is believed to be one of several informal consultations among opposition figures seeking to address fragmentation within their ranks following the 2023 general elections, which saw a split opposition vote.
Political observers note that Ibadan has increasingly served as a neutral venue for such engagements, although many of the discussions remain exploratory and non-binding.
Within the Labour Party, the leadership appears keen to avoid early entanglement in coalition politics, opting instead to focus on rebuilding internal cohesion and organisational capacity before considering broader political alignments ahead of the 2027 elections.
