The Labour Party has vehemently denied allegations made by lawyer Deji Adeyanju in a viral video claiming that the party had been “bought over” by President Bola Tinubu ahead of the 2027 general elections.
In a strongly worded statement, the party’s National Publicity Secretary, Obiora Ifoh, dismissed the claims as baseless and demanded an immediate apology from Adeyanju, describing his remarks as “criminal defamation” against the party and its leadership, particularly its National Chairman, Barrister Julius Abure.
“The Labour Party is the most visible opposition party today, and our National Chairman, Barrister Abure, is the leading voice in the opposition, being highly critical of the present government,” Ifoh stated.
He categorically rejected the allegations, calling them “untrue, lies, and unfounded,” and reaffirmed that the LP had consistently resisted any alliance with the ruling All Progressives Congress ahead of the next elections.
Ifoh outlined the party’s continued efforts since the 2023 general elections to challenge the current administration and push for electoral reforms. Among these efforts were the establishment of an Electoral Reform Committee to promote free and fair election processes and a Political Education Committee to guide citizens on effective political participation.
“We have been working tirelessly to deepen participatory democracy through initiatives such as e-membership registration,” he added.
The LP accused Adeyanju of making “unguarded and callous” remarks aimed at tarnishing its image. The party has demanded that he either substantiate his claims with evidence or publicly retract his statements and apologise for the harm caused.
“Adeyanju’s assertions have caused the Labour Party significant harm, and we call on him to cease any further actions that could damage the party’s reputation,” Ifoh said. “We view his viral comments as criminal defamation, and we demand that he either provide proof or apologize to the leadership and millions of Labour Party members.”
The Labour Party reiterated its position as Nigeria’s leading opposition force and emphasised its commitment to holding the current government accountable while advocating for better governance and democracy.
