A prominent Labour Party (LP) leader, Professor Patrick Utomi, has shed light on how a coalition of committed reformers within the party sparked the movement that powered Peter Obi’s presidential bid in 2023.
Utomi, speaking after the Supreme Court’s latest ruling on the LP leadership crisis, called on party stakeholders to remain focused on the party’s core vision. The apex court had struck out the Appeal Court’s recognition of Julius Abure as the party’s national chairman, siding with Nenadi Usman’s appeal and dismissing Abure’s cross-appeal.
Reacting to the ruling, Utomi emphasized the need to uphold the party’s social democratic ideals. He reflected on how his collaboration with former Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) President, Ayuba Waba, and LP strategist, Wale Okuniyi, birthed a movement that redefined Nigeria’s electoral politics.
“In a desperate attempt to rescue Nigeria from power-hungry politics, we came together to spark a political movement based on shared values,” Utomi said.
He explained that their intention was to build a party of integrity—one that recruits leaders with competence, compassion, and commitment. According to him, the vision was to promote economic growth through job creation while prioritizing social welfare.
Utomi recalled the many strategy sessions held at Waba’s NLC office in Abuja, which he chaired, highlighting his admiration for Scandinavian-style governance that ensures universal access to health and education.
“This is the foundation of the third force we envisioned. Finding people whose values align with these principles is critical to sustaining our impact,” he added.
Utomi urged the Labour Party to focus on unity and continue championing people-first policies that can transform the country.
