People & Money

Is Labour Party the New Force or the New APGA?

 

“The Labour Party has three possible futures. One, it could on the back of alliance of young urban Nigerians, middle-class and professionals become the governing party in the 2027 elections or later . Two, it could turn Nigeria into a 3-party political system by winning more states in the South-East and producing governors and federal and state lawmakers in the most urbanized states like Lagos”.

 

Most democracies in the world are duopolies, i.e. political systems dominated by two parties. This is true for the advanced democracies in the West as well as for the host of hyphenated democracies in Africa and Asia. It has also been true for Nigeria.

Despite the tendency, rooted in the country’s immediate post-independence tri-regional constitutional architecture, to have political parties representing the three major ethnic groups, Nigerian democracy has evolved into a typical duopoly.

Just like in the 1979 – 1983  period of civilian rule, since 1999 when Nigerian returned to democracy, two national parties have controlled the majority of elective positions in the country and had a significant influence on governance. Will the Labour Party change this political history?

The Labour Party is a new kind of animal in Nigeria’s political forest. It is not a national party forged on an inter-ethnic alliance, yet it has pockets of strong support from young people, the middle class and professionals all over the country. Its rise has also been fueled by the energetic allegiance of Nigerians from the South-East.

The Labour Party presented a presidential candidate, Peter Obi, that clearly had a national appeal in the 2023 elections. It achieved an unprecedented feat in Nigerian politics by defeating the eventual winner of the presidential polls in Lagos, his home turf. Labour Party has ended up with 6 senators and 37 members of the House of Representatives. The party has also produced the Governor of Abia State and a sprinkling of state assembly members.

The Labour Party has three possible futures. One, it could on the back of an alliance of young urban Nigerians, middle-class and professionals become the governing party in the 2027 elections or later . Two, it could turn Nigeria into a 3-party political system by winning more states in the South-East and producing governors and federal and state lawmakers in the most urbanized states like Lagos. Three, the Labour Party could lose its national appeal and potential and become the new APGA with its influence limited to one or two states in the South-East. We spoke to 5 Nigerian voters on their thoughts on the future of the Labour Party. The interviews were conducted before the March gubernatorial elections.

Also Read: Can the Labour Party Become a National Party?

Stanley Ifemeje, 28, Proposal Writer 

The energy that Peter Obi brought to the party has transformed Nigeria’s politics. Nigerians are tired of the old-generation parties (APC & PDP) because they have failed to provide basic needs“. 

There is no risk here of the Labour Party (LP) becoming the new APGA. The support of the LP cuts across regions, tribes, and religions. As per the last elections, LP has won some senate seats in the South West, North Central and North West geopolitical zones. They will also clench some seats after the gubernatorial polls on March 18.

Labour Party has the potential to become the official opposition party. Since the Buhari-led administration came into power under the famous APC, no political party has displayed the qualities and dynamism needed to be an effective opposition party. The PDP, which ruled Nigeria for 16 years unfortunately has not been able to function at all as an opposition party. You can see the hope and excitement which the Labour Party’s campaign generated all over Nigeria. The energy that Peter Obi brought to the party has transformed Nigeria’s politics. Nigerians are tired of the old-generation parties (APC & PDP) because they have failed to provide basic needs.

For the Labour Party to become an effective opposition party, it has to deviate from the norm of bad leadership and corruption which are hallmarks of the APC and PDP. The majority of its supporters are young people fed up with the shameful system of corruption, thievery, and tribalism. Therefore, LP needs to create a structure that ensures its elected members deliver at all levels. The LP also needs to develop an anti-corruption mechanism that prevents cross-carpeting. With these measures, the people will continue to see them as a party that represents their interests, thereby transforming them into an effective opposition party.

 

Afolabi Tosin, 30, Medical Doctor

If not, why then is a sitting Governor celebrating endorsement by LP? So much for a party without structure!?”

Every party started as a regional party. Going back to the days of M.K.O. Abiola, the NADECO movement was seen and recognized as a Southern Alliance party but people from other parts of the country joined and it acquired a national outlook.

Similarly, the Labour Party is currently seen as a South-East political vehicle. But the fact remains the party is growing very fast. People who think the Labour Party’s influence will be limited to the South-East are in for a big shock.

Furthermore, the Labour Party is starting out quite strongly from where the APC that is now the dominant national party started out. The APC was formed from a merger of parties that were previously regional parties-the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) from the South and the Congress for Progressive Change (CPC) from the North. It is now seen as the national party. No party or individual rises to national power without starting from a region. The Labour Party is already on the path.

You can already see how Labour Party is changing our politics. During elections, our politicians would enjoy themselves posing for pictures with okada riders, people selling bole and akara, etc. But for the first time, we are witnessing problem-directed campaigns. Politicians are now making 11th-hour moves to save themselves. This time they do things that actually count, not roasting corn at the roadside or hawking food items, etc.

In my opinion, the APC was the greatest opposition party in Nigeria’s history before it came into power in 2015. The Labour Party is very capable of matching its record.

There’s no question that the Labour Party is already Nigeria’s main opposition party.  If not, why then is a sitting Governor celebrating endorsement by LP? So much for a party without structure! We need to constructively monitor and constructively criticize the government and ask questions. Our voices must continue to echo in the corridors of power. The Labour Party must be to Nigeria what the Republican Party in the United States is to the Democratic Party in power and what the Labour Party of the United Kingdom is to the country’s Conservative Party. It’s a full-time job!

Also Read: Obi Leads in Another Poll as Elections are Projected to Enter Run-Off

Sam Ewrujakpor, 60, Estate surveyor

“...it has a national spread compared to APGA which has not improved from where its founder, the late Ojukwu left it

I do not believe that LP runs the risk of becoming a regional party like APGA. During the just concluded presidential/National Assembly elections, their victory in Cross River, Delta, Edo, Lagos, Abuja, Nasarawa and Plateau States have shown that it is not a party restricted to one region. As of today, I think they have 1 House of Representatives member from Kaduna state, 1 from Delta State and a few from other states I am not sure of. They also have 1 or 2 Senators outside the South-East geopolitical zone. Therefore, it has a national spread compared to APGA which has not improved from where its founder, the late Ojukwu left it. Note also that the Labour Party has produced a governor in Ondo State years back in the person of Dr Segun Mimiko.

With the average Nigerian already tired of the identical twins, PDP and APC, LP will definitely evolve to become the official major opposition party. For them to become an effective opposition party, their members at the National Assembly have to be vibrant and vocal. There also have to be regular meetings of the LP executives at the national and state levels. The party has to be a voice of the populace on national issues.  The party and its leaders has to be on radio and television morning, afternoon and evening exposing and challenging the government, giving Nigerians hope and making us see them as the next party of the government.

 

Akugbe Osagiede, 33, Customer Service Rep

If the court were to say that Peter Obi won the presidential election now, I bet you, in the forthcoming gubernatorial elections, the Labour Party would have more seats in government, even in the North

APGA started as a regional party. They did not have a national presence and did not make any plans to become a national party. Even in the South-East, APGA focused on only  Anambra and Abia States.  Even though APGA’s manifesto and party constitution were created to achieve an Igbo presidency, the party is active only in Anambra and Abia states even in the South-East.

But the Labour Party is not regional. It was formed in 2003, and its first governor was Olusegun Mimiko in Ondo State. At the time, they were not well-known nationally, but they have been building and producing senators in recent times. We could say they were a regional party in the west. They became a force when Mr. Peter Obi joined their camp nine months ago. In this election cycle, Labour has clenched a few senatorial seats in several states in the South and North.

From recent happenings, we can say that LP has the makings of being the major opposition party in Nigeria. Imagine the growth they have achieved in several states in such a short period. The more they win, the more people will troop into the party making them more national and turning the party into a major political force. We are waiting for the court case. Suppose the court were to say that Peter Obi won the presidential election now. In that case, I bet you, in the forthcoming gubernatorial elections, the Labour Party would have more seats in government, even in the North. Right now, they have made being a member easy. They have one of the easiest membership platforms. You can even go online and register to be a part of them.

Before the LP came, the PDP was laid back. Now, look at the entire country. Politicians are sitting up. Even those already doing well are being careful, from Port Harcourt to Lagos. In Benue and Kogi, politicians are campaigning furiously because it is possible to lose their seats in disgrace. The Labour Party can make its process more transparent. They should be able to hold their members accountable. The reason is simple; the more they perform,  the more they would develop the confidence to seek positions in government. Anybody under the LP umbrella should be scrutinized by the leaders.

Also Read: Rational Amateurism: The Atiku and Peter Obi Campaigns Compared

Esla Anzaki, 27, Architect

The chances of the Labour Party ending up as a regional party is if its flag bearer and National Leader, Peter Obi, leaves the party.

If we are being honest, it is not wrong to consider the possibility of the Labour Party ending up like the APGA. However, the Obidient movement is far from that path. I strongly believe this is a national movement with prospects of wide acceptance across the core northern parts of the nation. Peter Obi and the Labour Party have already gained wide acceptance across the country’s north-central region.

The chances of the Labour Party ending up as a regional party is if its flag bearer and National Leader, Peter Obi, leaves the party. Labour is not an Igbo Party. In fact, most Igbo elites don’t support the Obidient movement.

There are even chances of LP gaining nationwide acceptance as a major opposition party. We just need to build more bridges, especially across the North. The APC is selling a narrative to the North that Peter Obi is an Igbo or Christian candidate. This creates a stereotype for the electorate, especially the uneducated. The Labour Party needs to work more on presenting Peter Obi as a nationalist to counter the propaganda by the APC.

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