Peter Obi Eyes SDP Move with El-Rufai Amid Labour Party Turmoil, Says Ex-PDP Spokesman

Former spokesperson for the Atiku Abubakar/Ifeanyi Okowa Presidential Campaign Organization, Daniel Bwala, has stirred controversy with claims that former Anambra State Governor and presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP) in the 2023 elections, Peter Obi, is strategizing to depart from the Labour Party amidst internal strife and align forces with ex-Kaduna Governor Nasir El-Rufai in the Social Democratic Party (SDP).

Bwala took to his X handle on Friday to unveil these allegations, suggesting that Obi‘s potential departure from the Labour Party stems from the ongoing crisis within the party, exacerbated by the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) threatening to seize control.

Peter Obi, who switched allegiance from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the Labour Party in May 2023 ahead of the general elections, is purportedly contemplating a shift to SDP in light of the turmoil within his current political home.

In his social media post, Bwala speculated on the unfolding political dynamics, hinting at a possible collaboration between Obi and El-Rufai under the banner of SDP. He referenced the legal judgment affirming NLC’s ownership of the Labour Party, signaling the impending involvement of the labor union in the party’s affairs.

The narrative of political realignment gains traction as El-Rufai was recently spotted at the SDP national secretariat in Abuja, sparking speculations about his potential entry into the party. A viral video captured El-Rufai‘s consultation visit to SDP’s national chairman, Alhaji Shehu Musa Gabam, during which the former governor dismissed concerns about photographs of the meeting being circulated on social media.

It’s worth noting that El-Rufai‘s ministerial nomination was not confirmed by the Nigerian Senate President Godswill Akpabio last August, alongside nominees like Senator Abubakar Sani Danladi and Stella Okotete, due to unresolved security concerns.