Joe Ajaero, president of the Nigeria Labour Congress, stated that the union had no knowledge of any discussions about merging the Labour Party with other political entities in the nation.
The Labour Party, a socio-democratic political entity, was established by organised labour
Rumours have circulated regarding a potential merger between the Labour Party and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) after a meeting between Peter Obi, the Labour Party’s presidential candidate for 2023, and Atiku Abubakar, the PDP’s presidential candidate.
Peter Obi also met with some PDP leaders in Abuja, including former Senate President Bukola Saraki and Sule Lamido, the former Jigawa State governor.
In the 2019 election, Atiku and Obi, a joint ticket on the platform of the PDP, but lost to Muhammadu Buhari of the All Progressives Congress.
Following disputes within the PDP, Obi departed the party in 2022 and ran for president with the Labour Party in 2023.
Atiku, after his meeting with Obi on May 13, 2024, indicated that party members would choose their path in the 2027 elections. He mentioned that if the PDP selects a candidate from the South-East, such as Obi, in 2027, he would support him.
Atiku’s recent meeting with Obi signals a potential alliance for the 2027 elections.
In response to questions about the NLC’s stance on merger discussions that could dissolve the Labour Party or involve organised labour, Ajaero confirmed they were unaware of such discussions.
“We are not aware of such talks,” he said.
