Former Labour Party chairman Julius Abure says he is willing to negotiate with President Bola Tinubu or former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar ahead of the 2027 presidential election, but insists his political decision will depend on a pending Supreme Court judgment and the interests of his supporters.

Former National Chairman of the Labour Party, Julius Abure, has ruled out supporting Peter Obi in the 2027 presidential election, declaring his readiness to consider an alliance with President Bola Tinubu or former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar.

Abure said he was open to working with any of the major presidential contenders except Obi, whom he accused of destroying the political goodwill, support base and organisational structure that helped him emerge as a strong contender in the 2023 presidential election.

The former Labour Party chairman, however, stressed that he had yet to enter into discussions with any presidential candidate, explaining that his next political move would depend on the outcome of a pending Supreme Court case over the party's leadership.

In an interview with The PUNCH, Abure said he would consult his supporters and consider available political options if the Supreme Court failed to deliver its judgment before the end of November.

He maintained that any political alliance must reflect his group's interests and ideology, adding that the candidate involved must also have sufficient public appeal.

"We are open to working with any of the major candidates," Abure said, making it clear that Obi was not among those he would support.

He further declared that he was prepared to mobilise the same political supporters and grassroots network that worked for Obi during the 2023 presidential campaign, but this time against the former Anambra State governor.

Abure said his decision was not based solely on personal preference, insisting that the interests of his political followers would also determine the direction of his next move.

Abure accuses Obi, Otti of destroying Labour Party structure

The former LP chairman also renewed his allegations against Obi and Abia State Governor Alex Otti, accusing them of undermining his leadership and dismantling the party's organisational structure.

According to Abure, the crisis weakened the Labour Party from the ward level to the national leadership, leaving supporters who remained loyal to his faction feeling sidelined.

He described the alleged actions of Obi and Otti as a major setback for the party, insisting that the leadership dispute was deliberately directed at removing him from control.

The disagreement between Abure and Obi followed months of internal wrangling over the Labour Party's leadership, the conduct of its national convention and control of its political structure.

While Abure accused Obi and Otti of supporting a parallel National Working Committee in Owerri, allies of the former presidential candidate maintained that Abure had violated an earlier understanding to conduct an inclusive convention beginning at the ward and state levels.

The disagreement eventually widened the political gulf between both camps, prompting Obi to move away from the Labour Party and seek another political platform.

Abure argued that the crisis had exposed what he described as Obi's leadership shortcomings, questioning his ability to govern Nigeria after failing to manage the internal affairs of a political party.

He said the former governor's handling of the Labour Party crisis would influence how Nigerians assess his presidential ambitions.

Abure predicts Obi's performance will decline in 2027

Abure also expressed doubts about Obi's chances in the 2027 presidential election, predicting that the former Labour Party presidential candidate would perform below his 2023 electoral showing.

He argued that Obi had lost much of the goodwill, human capital, financial resources and political machinery that contributed to his impressive performance in the last presidential election.

Obi secured more than six million votes in the 2023 election, emerging as a major political force and attracting considerable support, particularly among young Nigerians.

However, Abure claimed that Obi's departure from the Labour Party had weakened his political foundation and deprived him of the grassroots structure that helped drive his previous campaign.

He also criticised Obi's movement from the Labour Party to the African Democratic Congress before joining the Nigeria Democratic Congress, alleging that the former governor had struggled to secure the political influence he desired in his previous platforms.

Abure further suggested that Obi would not enjoy the same level of political freedom and influence in the NDC that he allegedly experienced under his leadership in the Labour Party.

He pointed to the influence of NDC National Leader, Senator Seriake Dickson, arguing that the former Bayelsa State governor remained firmly in control of the party's leadership.

According to Abure, Dickson had learnt from the Labour Party's experience and was determined to prevent a similar leadership crisis in the NDC.

Obi's camp dismisses Abure's position

However, the Nigeria Democratic Congress and Obi's camp have dismissed Abure's latest political position, insisting that they are no longer concerned about the former Labour Party chairman.

The spokesperson for the NDC Presidential Campaign Council, Constance Ikokwu, said Obi was concentrating on his campaign and the broader task of mobilising Nigerians ahead of the 2027 presidential election.

Ikokwu wished Abure well in his political pursuits, adding that the party was focused on issues affecting the country rather than disagreements with former political associates.

Similarly, Obi's media aide, Idris Zekeri, said the former governor had moved on from the Labour Party leadership crisis and was concentrating on his presidential ambition.

Zekeri described Abure as irrelevant to the campaign's immediate priorities, noting that the political team was focused on winning the 2027 election.

He urged Nigerians who believed in equity, justice, fairness, competence and compassion to support Obi, whom he described as the most qualified candidate to lead the country.

Zekeri also suggested that Abure's refusal to support Obi was influenced by personal grievances rather than national interest.

He acknowledged, however, that political disagreements were part of democracy and that not every Nigerian would necessarily support the former Anambra governor.

The latest exchange highlights the lingering divisions within the Labour Party following the political crisis that erupted after the 2023 general election.

With the 2027 presidential race approaching, Abure's willingness to consider alliances with Tinubu or Atiku, while rejecting Obi, introduces another dimension to the unfolding political realignments ahead of the contest.