The Labour Party (LP) in Enugu State is facing an existential crisis as internal wrangling, defections, and alleged political sabotage threaten its stability.
A party chieftain, Dr. Chukwudi Nnabuike in an interview with DAILY GAZETTE, accused political actors of deliberately weakening the party ahead of the 2027 general election.
Dr. Nnabuike alleged that some disgruntled politicians within the LP are secretly aligning with the Zenith Labour Party (ZLP) as an alternative platform.
He warned that this move is part of a broader strategy to undermine the Labour Party in Enugu.
“There are individuals within our party who are not committed to its growth. Rather than build, they are looking for shortcuts. Some of them are already negotiating with the ZLP while pretending to be loyal to LP,” Nnabuike revealed.
DAILY GAZETTE recall that the Labour Party gained significant traction in Enugu following the 2023 general elections, largely due to the influence of its presidential candidate, Peter Obi.
However, since the elections, the party has struggled with defections and internal discord.
In March 2024, six members of the Enugu State House of Assembly elected on the Labour Party platform defected to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), significantly weakening the LP’s legislative influence.
Similarly, rumors recently surfaced about Senator Kelvin Chukwu representing Enugu East Senatorial zone leaving the party for the Zenith Labour Party (ZLP) —claims he has since denied, insisting his resignation letter was forged.
Dr. Chukwudi Nnabuike also lamented that many who rode on the wave of Peter Obi’s popularity have now abandoned the party, further deepening its crisis.
“The problem is that some of these people never truly believed in the Labour Party. They only followed Peter Obi’s wave in 2023, but now that elections are over, they are either inactive or looking for alternatives. If we don’t reorganize ourselves, these same people will scatter the party before 2027,” he warned.
Despite the challenges, the chieftain maintained that LP remains a formidable force in Enugu, provided it can address internal weaknesses.
He called for party discipline, ideological commitment, and strategic leadership to prevent further defections and infiltration.
“The future of the Labour Party in Enugu depends on how we handle this crisis. If we allow personal interests to overshadow collective progress, we will lose everything we worked for,” he concluded.
