The leadership of the Labour Party says its 2023 presidential flag bearer, Peter Obi, is yet to reveal the outcome of his recent meetings with some political allies in Abuja.
The media was awash with viral photographs of Obi’s closed-door meeting with three chieftains of the Peoples Democratic Party on Monday.
They include former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, erstwhile Governor of Jigawa State, Sule Lamido, and former Senate President, Bukola Saraki,
This is the former Anambra State governor’s first engagement with his former political allies after he defected from the PDP to LP in May 2022.
Speaking in an interview with Saturday PUNCH, Labour Party National Chairman, Julius Abure, however, said that he cannot openly confirm what was deliberated because Obi has not briefed him.
While stating that the party nurses had no fear that the meetings could unsettle its camp, Abure stressed that Obi was free to mingle with associates and friends across party lines in the country.
He said, “You know it is difficult to confirm anything at this stage until we see the character and shade of the alliance. So I am still waiting for Obi to discuss it with me. But whatever is the case, we are fine. If it is an alliance that will lead to a better country, why won’t we back it?
“It is Obi’s nature to generally visit people. Whether in the Labour Party or not, he has a lot of friends. His friends cut across party lines. Recall that he once visited Wole Soyinka too. So I see his meeting with Atiku as one of such visits, which may not necessarily have political undertones.”
When prodded to confirm if he would assent to any possible alliance between the PDP and LP ahead of the 2027 presidential election, Abure said it wasn’t his decision to make.
