Tensions within the Labour Party have spiked again as South West Vice Chairman, Abayomi Arabambi, has issued a seven-day ultimatum to the party’s 2023 presidential candidate, Peter Obi, demanding a public retraction, apology, and N50 billion in damages over an alleged defamatory “no address” remark.
The letter, sent on July 3 to Obi at the NDC secretariat, marks the latest escalation in the long-running rift between Obi and factions of the LP, even as the party prepares for 2027.
The Ultimatum
According to reports, Arabambi’s pre-action notice accused Obi of making defamatory comments in response to accusations that Arabambi and others had siphoned party funds from the 2023 elections.
Arabambi is demanding three things within seven days: a public retraction of the comment, a public apology, and payment of N50 billion. Failure to comply, the letter warned, would lead to a defamation suit.
The clash comes amid renewed friction after Obi announced his involvement with the opposition coalition under the African Democratic Congress, ADC, for the 2027 elections. On July 2, coalition leaders adopted the ADC as their platform, naming former Senate President David Mark as interim chairman and ex-Osun Governor Rauf Aregbesola as secretary. Obi was present at the unveiling.
The Abure-led LP faction had earlier issued a 48-hour ultimatum asking Obi to resign from the party for joining the coalition, calling it “dual agendas” and “deceptive personas”. That ultimatum was later dismissed by the Nenadi Usman-led caretaker committee as “mischievous” and lacking legal weight.
Who Is Abayomi Arabambi?
Abayomi Arabambi served as National Publicity Secretary of the Lamidi Apapa-led faction of the Labour Party. He has been one of the most vocal critics of Obi within the party.
Over the past two years, Arabambi has repeatedly accused Obi of anti-party activities and has threatened expulsion. He has also claimed the Abure-led leadership is the only recognized authority in the LP, dismissing the Usman caretaker committee as having no constitutional basis.
The Labour Party itself has, however, distanced itself from Arabambi on other occasions. In a statement earlier this year, the party described him as “an expelled member” who “has no authority whatsoever to speak for or on behalf of the Labour Party”. The party said his comments were “personal, misleading, and irrelevant”.
Obi’s Camp Responds With Silence
As of press time, Obi’s camp has not issued an official response to the seven-day notice. His supporters have largely brushed off the demand online, with some echoing Obi’s earlier criticism of Arabambi and the factional leadership.
Obi himself has maintained that his decision to work with the ADC coalition “was not made lightly” and is aimed at building “an inclusive political alternative” to rescue Nigeria from what he calls “disastrous misrule”. He has also stressed that he remains a member of the Labour Party while supporting the coalition movement.
The Nenadi Usman-led faction has previously backed Obi’s coalition involvement, stating on May 26, 2025 that it had the “full knowledge, approval, and support of the Labour Party leadership”.
A Party Still Battling Internal Wounds
The Labour Party’s post-2023 crisis has been defined by factional battles. The party is split between the Julius Abure-led National Working Committee and the Senator Nenadi Usman-led National Caretaker Committee. The Supreme Court had previously sacked the Abure-led executives, a point the Usman faction continues to cite.
Arabambi’s latest move adds to a pattern of public confrontations. Party leaders in 2023 had condemned what they called his “serial inflammatory blackmail” against Obi, urging the Apapa faction to prevail on him to stop.
The LP has also insisted it is not endorsing President Bola Tinubu for 2027 and remains committed to offering Nigerians “an alternative vision for governance”.
With the seven-day deadline now running, attention will be on whether Obi responds legally or politically. Given the history of lawsuits and counter-statements between both sides, a court filing is possible if the demands are not met.
For the Labour Party, the episode underscores how unresolved leadership disputes continue to play out in public, even as the party tries to position itself for 2027. Whether the threat translates to litigation or fizzles out like previous ultimatums remains to be seen.
One thing is clear: the battle for the soul of the Labour Party, and Peter Obi’s place in it, is far from over.
