The South-West National Vice Chairman of the Labour Party (LP), Abayomi Arabambi, has said the party’s leadership, including Abia State Governor Alex Otti, has agreed to back President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s re-election in 2027.
Abayomi Arabambi, disclosed this position during an interview on News Central on Thursday, indicating what he described as an emerging consensus among key figures within the party.
Arabambi claimed that the understanding, which he said involves both the party’s national leadership and Abia State Governor Alex Otti, is anchored on preserving what he termed the South-West’s turn at the presidency.
“Abure and Governor Alex Otti have all agreed in principle that we will support President Bola Ahmed Tinubu because this presidency belongs to the South-West, not to the South,” he said.
He added that the arrangement is aimed at allowing the region to complete what he described as its eight-year tenure at the federal level.
The party chieftain also dismissed ongoing moves to bring Obi back into the Labour Party fold, insisting that such a move is no longer under consideration due to the party’s internal crisis and political realignments.
“Obi can never come back to the Labour Party, because we have an agreement, even with Governor Alex Otti, because of the intractable crisis, because of what has happened in the Labour Party, we have all settled that we will support the second term and ambition of Mr President Bola Ahmed Tinubu only,” he said.
Arabambi further took aim at former Minister of Finance, Nenadi Usman, accusing her of championing Obi’s return for personal political reasons.
According to him, her efforts are rooted in the belief that Obi may struggle to secure the presidential ticket of the coalition-backed African Democratic Congress (ADC).
“Nenadi is just an appendage of Peter Obi. She’s only deceiving herself. She wants Obi as our Labour Party presidential candidate, and that is not going to work,” he stated.
He also issued a blunt warning against any such moves.
“She should perish that thought, no matter whosoever that is sponsoring her,” he added.
