Former Labour Party presidential candidate Peter Obi issued a dire warning on Wednesday, declaring that Nigeria is “collapsing” and calling on the opposition and civil society to unite and speak boldly against the growing hardship in the country.
Speaking at the Labour Party’s National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting held at the Transcorp Hilton Hotel in Abuja, Obi decried the worsening economic conditions facing Nigerians. He emphasized the urgent need for solidarity and reform, beginning within the ranks of the Labour Party.
“We must speak when things are wrong,” Obi stated. “Nigeria is collapsing. The numbers are clear, the indices are clear. More and more people are poorer. People who used to feed well are now begging. Even in this hotel, I see people telling me, ‘Oga, I came to Abuja, I can’t go back.’”
Highlighting the rising poverty levels and economic disenfranchisement, Obi shared personal encounters that reflect the depth of the crisis, lamenting how places once filled with hospitality are now marked by desperation.
“This is not about politics,” he stressed. “This is about humanity. Let us stand together and ensure that the right things — starting from our party — are done.”
The NEC meeting was chaired by the party’s caretaker committee leader, Senator Nenadi Usman, a former Minister of Finance. Also in attendance were LP vice-presidential candidate Datti Baba-Ahmed, Abia State Governor Alex Otti, and several Labour Party senators and House of Representatives members.
Following the meeting, Labour Party leaders marched to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) headquarters in Abuja. There, they demanded the recognition of Senator Usman as the party’s legitimate chairperson.
Their appeal came in the wake of a recent Supreme Court ruling, which voided an earlier Court of Appeal decision that had recognized Julius Abure as LP chairman. The apex court held that internal leadership matters fall outside judicial jurisdiction and noted that Abure’s tenure had expired.
The court upheld an appeal filed by Senator Usman and another party member, dismissing a cross-appeal by the Abure faction as lacking merit.
Wednesday’s events mark a renewed push by the Labour Party leadership to assert internal order while calling broader national attention to Nigeria’s governance and economic crises.