The Acting National Chairman of the Labour Party (LP), Senator Nenadi Usman, has reaffirmed the party’s official endorsement of Peter Obi’s involvement in the newly formed opposition coalition led by former Senate President David Mark.

In a statement released on Thursday through her aide, Ken Asogwa, Usman dismissed the Julius Abure-led faction as illegitimate and lacking any legal or moral authority within the party. She referred to Abure’s group as “political jesters” who were removed from the party by the Supreme Court and suspended for “serial acts of indiscipline and anti-party activities.”

“For the avoidance of doubt, the leadership of the Labour Party, on May 26, 2025, publicly declared its full support for Mr. Obi’s involvement in the coalition efforts aimed at creating a robust political alternative to rescue Nigeria from the disastrous misrule of the APC,” Usman said.

She added that Obi’s participation in the unveiling of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) as the coalition platform for the 2027 elections was done “with the full knowledge, approval, and support of the Labour Party leadership.”

Usman urged the public and the media to ignore what she called “distractions and mischief from these discredited elements,” referring to Abure’s faction, which had issued a 48-hour ultimatum for Obi to resign from the party or face disciplinary action.

On Wednesday, key opposition leaders gathered in Abuja to unveil the ADC as the coalition’s adopted political platform. David Mark and Rauf Aregbesola were announced as interim National Chairman and Secretary, respectively.

Notable attendees at the meeting included Peter Obi, Atiku Abubakar, Nasir El-Rufai, Rotimi Amaechi, Dino Melaye, Solomon Dalung, Dele Momodu, Gabriel Suswam, Ireti Kingibe, Emeka Ihedioha, and Sadique Abubakar. The opposition coalition aims to present a unified front to challenge the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the 2027 general elections.