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Labour Party (Nigeria)

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Labour Party
AbbreviationLP
ChairmanBarr. Julius Abure
General SecretaryAlh. Umar Farouk Ibrahim
Founded2002; 22 years ago (2002)
HeadquartersNo. 2 IBM Haruna Street, Utako, Abuja FCT. (Near ABC Transport & NUJ Office), Abuja
IdeologySocial democracy
Political positionCentre-left
Colors  Red   Green
SloganForward Ever
Seats in the House
35 / 360
Seats in the Senate
8 / 109
Governorships
1 / 36
Seats in State Houses of Assembly
39 / 991
Website
labourparty.com.ng

The Labour Party (LP) is a social democratic political party in Nigeria. The party was created in 2002 and was previously known as the Party for Social Democracy (PSD) before changing to its current name the following year. Built on the ideology of social democracy, the party aims to promote and defend social democratic principles and ideals for the purpose of achieving social justice, progress and unity.[1]

On 27 May 2022, the party's membership and support increased drastically as the former governor of Anambra State, Peter Obi, joined the party shortly after he left the People's Democratic Party (PDP) in a bid to run for the 2023 Nigerian presidential election.[2]

History

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The party was formed in 2002 as the Party for Social Democracy, and was established by the Nigeria Labour Congress. Its name was officially changed to the Labour Party after the 2003 general election.[3][4]

In 2007, Olusegun Mimiko, ran successfully as governor of Ondo State under the banner of the Labour Party for a period of two terms (2009–2017), only to return to the PDP in 2020.[5]

2021

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After the late National Chairman Alhaji Abdulkadir Abdulsalam died in 2020,[6] the party went through a serious leadership crisis. Barrister Julius Abure, who was the National Secretary of the Labour Party, was elected as the new National Chairman by the Labour Party National Executive Council (NEC) in 2021.[7] The former Deputy National Chairman of the party Calistus Okafor, challenged Barrister Julius Abure after he claimed to be the authentic National Chairman of the party by virtue of his position.[8]

2022

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Former governor of Anambra State, Peter Obi, joined the party after leaving the Peoples Democratic Party a proactive decision prompted by his inability to gain the necessary support needed to win in the fast approaching PDP primaries. He emerged as the 2023 presidential candidate of the Labour party after Pat Utomi, Faduri Joseph and Olubusola Emmanuel-Tella stepped down from the contest, making him the only aspirant in the presidential primaries.[9] Gbadebo Rhodes-Vivour emerged as the governorship candidate of the party in Lagos state.[10]

2023

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Just before the 2023 Nigerian general election, the party obtained the support of both the Nigeria Labour Congress and the Trade Union Congress of Nigeria. The trade union federations advised their members to vote for Peter Obi.[11] This was the first time the trade union federations expressed explicit support for a political party.[4] Alex Otti, the Labour Party governorship candidate in Abia State became the only elected Governor in the party in 2023.[12]

Party symbols

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The logo of the party is a wheel with a man and woman with a child engraved in the centre.

The wheel stands for industry and work as basis for economic empowerment of the populace and the prosperity of the nation, i.e. continuous economic growth and development. The linkage, between the wheel and man, woman and child connotes that governance, economic and social development must lead to the advancement of human beings.

Party flag

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The flag of the party is red and green, both equal in size, placed vertically, with Red representing transformation and Green representing agriculture. The logo of the Party is at the centre of the flag.[13]

Election results

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Presidential elections

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Year Party candidate Running mate Votes % Result
2019 Alh. Muhammed Usman Zaki Chief Ezekiel Akpan 5,074 0.019% Lost Red XN
2023 Peter Obi Yusuf Datti 6,101,533 25.40% Red XN

House of Representatives and Senate elections

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Election House of Representatives Senate
Seats +/– Seats +/–
2003
0 / 360
 New
0 / 109
 New
2007
1 / 360
 Increase 1
0 / 109
 Steady 0
2011
8 / 360
 Increase 7
4 / 109
 Increase 4
2015
1 / 360
 Decrease 7
0 / 109
 Decrease 7
2019
1 / 360
 Steady 0
0 / 109
 Steady 0
2023
35 / 360
 Increase 34
8 / 109
 Increase 7

Gubernatorial elections

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Year State Party candidate Votes Result
2007 Ondo State Olusegun Mimiko 226,051 Won
2012 Ondo State Olusegun Mimiko 260,199 Won
2023 Abia State Alex Otti 175,467 Won

References

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  1. ^ Komolafe, Kayode (1 June 2022). "Labour Party in New Colour?". THISDAYLIVE. Retrieved 3 June 2022.
  2. ^ "Peter Obi joins Labour Party | Premium Times Nigeria". 27 May 2022. Retrieved 3 June 2022.
  3. ^ Lagos, Oke Ogunde in. "Nigerian Labour Party: What manner of Workers' Party?". In Defence of Marxism. Retrieved 3 June 2022.
  4. ^ a b "Nigeria's Election Could Break the Political Mold, But It Won't End the Social Crisis". jacobin.com. Retrieved 27 February 2023.
  5. ^ Obadare, Ebenezer. "Will Obi Reinvigorate the Nigerian Labor Movement?". Council on Foreign Relations. Retrieved 4 October 2022.
  6. ^ "Just in: Abdulkadir Abdulsalam, Labour Party National Chairman is dead". Vanguard News. 29 December 2020. Retrieved 3 June 2022.
  7. ^ "Labour Party Gets New National Chairman". The Whistler Newspaper. 29 March 2021. Retrieved 3 June 2022.
  8. ^ "Labour Party Crisis Worsens as Court Okays Factional Leader's Fresh Suit. The party is currently embroiled in crisis with two different factional Chairman, One being led by Alhaji Lamidi Apapa and the other one by Julius Abure".
  9. ^ "UPDATED: Real reason Peter Obi left PDP for Labour Party". 30 May 2022. Retrieved 3 June 2022.
  10. ^ Adelagun, Oluwakemi (31 August 2022). "Labour Party unveils Rhodes-Vivour as Lagos guber candidate presents certificate of return". Premium Times Nigeria. Retrieved 4 October 2022.
  11. ^ Ibeh, Nnenna (22 February 2023). ""Vote for Peter Obi," Nigeria Labour Congress tells all workers". Legit.ng – Nigeria news. Retrieved 27 February 2023.
  12. ^ Ugwu, Chinagorom (22 March 2023). "It's Official: Labour Party's Alex Otti wins Abia governorship poll". Premium Times Nigeria. Retrieved 23 March 2023.
  13. ^ "LP Constitution" (PDF). Labor Party.
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