Loyalists of the 2023 Labour Party Presidential Candidate Peter Obi, Oluchi Opara and a chieftain of the party, Joseph Faduri, have exchanged banter over the party’s ticket in the last election.

Oluchi, a former National Treasurer of the party, had claimed most ‘failed politicians’ rode on the back of Obi to get prominence, in the last election.

She had also claimed that Faduri was not a candidate of the party.

Reacting to her claim, National Media Director, Rescue Movement for New Nigeria, Rev Emmanuel Olorunmagba, in a statement yesterday, said Opara misinformed the public as Joseph was an aspirant who was pressured to step aside for Obi.

Olorunmagba said: “Our attention has been drawn to a recent public rebuttal made by Ms. Oluchi Opara, former Treasurer of the Labour Party, in response to a recent publication, where His Excellency Faduri Joseph described the current situation within Labour Party as a poetic justice.

“It is disappointing and indeed shameful that a former national officer of a party—one who was present during the crucial period leading up to the 2023 elections—could publicly claim ignorance of the involvement and pivotal role played by His Excellency Faduri Oluwadare Joseph in reviving the Labour Party in 2022 as well as he being a presidential aspirant under the party.

“Her statements, so riddled with misinformation. And for one who is supposed to be in charge of treasury of a party to claim not to know about the record of the payment made by an aspirant for Expression of Interest and Nomination Form is really so funny.

“Even Lai Mohammed will not even tell that kind of lie. However if she wants to claim not to remember what was obvious, then we will advise her to ask herself why Faduri was compelled to step down for His Excellency Peter Obi during the Labour Party Presidential Primary in 2022 in Asaba, Delta State.

“Can one who was not an aspirant be compelled to step down for another aspirant in a political party primary election?

“In addition to other records, pictures taken during the 2022 Asaba LP presidential primary elections are still available. In fact, one of those pictures is where Mr Faduri Joseph and Prof Pat Utomi who where presidential aspirants both lifted up Mr Peter Obi’s hand after they stepped down to allow him emerge as the presidential candidate of Labour Party for the 2023 presidential election.”

The cleric also cleared the air that party had an ethnic agenda. He noted that Labour Party is a national party devoid of religion and ethnic sentiment.

“We must also address the wave of unprovoked attacks from some individuals who identify as members of the Obidient Movement—many of whom are my fellow Igbo brothers and sisters.

“While we appreciate the energy and passion that drove the movement, it is important to understand that the Labour Party is not, and must never be, an ethnic or regional party.

“One of the critical mistakes we made in 2023 was allowing the public perception that the party was pushing an “Igbo agenda.”

“This alienated a broad base of national support. It must be stated clearly: the Obidient Movement was born out of the Rescue Movement for a New Nigeria, which Mr Faduri Joseph helped to initiate and even go further to register in the United States alongside patriotic Nigerians from all ethnic groups in the diaspora.

“Attacking other aspirants or labelling them as opposition agents will only weaken our resolve and fracture the unity we so desperately need.

“His Excellency remains one of the few consistent and credible opposition voices against the APC government, through the platform of the Rescue Movement—a platform that has pushed for positive reforms and has been instrumental in compelling the government to act on critical issues,” he said.

Beyond the crisis, he called on all Labour Party leaders, stakeholders, and supporters to put aside personal egos, ethnic sentiments, and petty divisions.

“If we truly seek to unseat the current government of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in 2027 and rescue Nigeria, then we must begin by reconciling within our own party.

“A house divided against itself cannot stand. We need one party, one voice, one vision—and that vision must be built on truth, accountability, and national interest above all else.

“We urge Ms. Oluchi Opara to retrace her steps, seek out the truth, and issue a public apology for her false and reckless statements. Only then can we move forward together to reposition our party for national leadership,” he preached. (Daily Sun)