Fresh indication has emerged that the 2023 presidential candidate of the Labour Party, LP, Peter Obi, may dump the party.

News ToGo reports that the is as the Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, asserted that Obi is at liberty to leave the party if he desires.

NLC spokesperson Benson Upah reiterated this stance on Sunday, affirming the union’s disavowal of Julius Abure’s leadership despite what they view as an ‘illegal’ national convention that reinstated Abure as the national chairman of the Labour Party.

“Our position on this matter is clear and has not changed. Abure remains unknown to us. It is not a question of removal. As far as we know, he does not exist,” Upah stated.

In a parallel development, the Lagos Assembly of Labour Veterans and Trade Unionists, a group of retired workers, called for the resignation of Julius Abure and NLC President Joe Ajaero due to their contentious leadership struggle.

Peter Obi’s disagreement with the Labour Party’s leadership arose from the conduct of the convention in Nnewi, Anambra State.

During a session on X, Obi voiced his frustrations, citing his absence from the national convention due to the party leadership’s failure to heed his appeal for broader consultation with stakeholders beforehand.

Speculations regarding Obi’s potential switch to another political platform have been fueled by his recent comments, despite being assured the 2027 ticket at the convention.

However, Upah clarified that the decision regarding Obi’s party affiliation rests solely with him, emphasizing that he is free to chart his political course.

“The right of choice is available to Mr. Obi. If he chooses to leave the party, that is his preference.

“We can’t sit in judgment over him on that. But if he chooses to remain, of course, Peter Obi is an asset any day. I rest my case on that,” Upah concluded.

The governments of Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger, all led by military regimes, are moving forward with plans to establish a confederation, according to an announcement from the Malian foreign ministry on Thursday.

News ToGo reports that this move deepens ties among the three countries through an alliance that challenges broader West African integration efforts.

On January 28, the military administrations of Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger declared their withdrawal from the West African bloc ECOWAS. They emphasized that this decision was a “sovereign” one and stated their intent to leave the Economic Community of West African States “without delay.”

Further solidifying their stance, the leader of Niger’s military junta, Abdourahamane Tchiani, reiterated on Monday that none of the three Sahel nations would seek to rejoin the regional bloc.

At a gathering in Ouagadougou, the capital of Burkina Faso, the ministers from the three countries confirmed their joint commitment to depart from ECOWAS promptly and continue their collaboration under the Alliance of Sahel States (AES). The Malian foreign ministry shared that they “reaffirmed their commitment to advancing resolutely in the process of implementing the AES and creating the Tri-State Confederation.”

Details regarding the functioning of the proposed confederation have not yet been disclosed, including plans for alignment in political, economic, and security matters. These countries are grappling with a decade-long battle against Islamist insurgents that has caused instability in the subregion.

In November, their finance ministers mentioned considering the establishment of a monetary union, and officials from all three nations have expressed varying levels of support for moving away from the West African CFA franc common currency.

These military-led governments have severed longstanding military ties with France, their former colonial ruler. This move has diminished France’s influence in the Sahel region and complicated international efforts to combat militants associated with al Qaeda and the Islamic State.

A prominent contender in Edo State, Dr. Ernest Afolabi Umakhihe, has opted out of the All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship primary election.

News ToGo reports that he promptly announced his endorsement of Dennis Idahosa, the youthful representative of Ovia constituency in the House of Representatives, whom he hailed as “the choice of the party.”

Umakhihe, a retired federal Permanent Secretary from Edo North Senatorial District, made his withdrawal from the race official on Saturday morning.

In his statement, Umakhihe expressed gratitude to his supporters and declared, “Let us give our support to Hon. Dennis Idahosa, who is the choice of the party. There are greater days ahead.”

With the withdrawals of Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu and Chief Lucky Imasuen, nine out of the 12 cleared aspirants remain in the race.

The governorship direct primary election is currently underway across Edo State, with collation slated for Benin later today.