The Julius Abure-led Labour Party has ruled out the possibility of entering any political coalition ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The declaration was made by factional National Chairman, Julius Abure, during a press briefing held after the party’s National Executive Council (NEC) meeting on Monday, July 21, in Abuja.
The resolutions from the gathering, which were jointly signed by Abure and the party’s National Secretary, Alhaji Farouk Ibrahim, stressed its ideological independence and commitment to rebuilding internal structures.
“NEC in session reiterates that Labour Party will not be part of any coalition for the 2027 general election,” Abure told journalists after the meeting. “NEC believes the 2023 coalition was more impactful than any other. We will rebuild, reconcile, and consolidate the gains of that election.”
The meeting, attended by top national officers, members of the National Working Committee (NWC), and 2023 vice-presidential candidate, Senator Datti Baba-Ahmed, centred on realigning the party’s direction while shutting the door on further mergers or alliances.
Abure emphasised that the Labour Party’s ideology and vision were too distinct to blend with what he described as “politically spent forces.”
“We therefore cannot align with politically spent forces who previously mismanaged the nation’s resources and opportunities,” he asserted, in what appeared to be a direct swipe at the country’s two dominant parties.
In a sharp rebuke, the NEC also condemned a factional gathering held on Friday, July 18, describing it as “unconstitutional and unauthorised.”
“NEC dissociates from the meeting’s outcomes, including the renaming of the illegal Umuahia Caretaker Committee as an Interim National Working Committee,” Abure declared. “Illegality cannot be legitimised by rebranding. The so-called Interim NWC remains unlawful.”
Citing Article 14(4)(B) of the party’s Constitution, Abure reaffirmed that only the National Secretary, under the chairman’s approval, is empowered to convene official party meetings. He dismissed suggestions of a leadership crisis within the Labour Party.
“There is no leadership vacuum in the Labour Party,” he insisted, reminding stakeholders that the party’s National Convention held on March 27 in Nnewi had been upheld by the Supreme Court in its April 4 ruling.
He called on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) Chairman, Prof. Mahmoud Yakubu, to uphold the court’s ruling and ignore distractions from what he termed “illegal gatherings.”
“Based on this, NEC urges the public to disregard the so-called meeting and its resolutions. NEC reaffirms confidence in the Julius Abure-led National Working Committee and calls for continued loyalty to party leadership,” Abure said.
The NEC also approved plans to hold congresses at the state, local government, and ward levels, by the party’s constitutional framework and national laws.
In a notable moment during the briefing, Senator Datti Baba-Ahmed reaffirmed his loyalty to the party’s leadership and declared his intention to run again in 2027.