By Comrade Bashir Bello
The exit of Peter Obi from the Labour Party represents a defining moment; a litmus test in the struggle of labour and the broader Left to chart a new course in the political emancipation of Nigeria’s subjugated workforce.
There is no doubt that workers constitute the bulk of the voting population. It is only through genuine identification with their material conditions, struggles, and aspirations that political forces can alter the direction of public policy in favour of the working class.
In the last general election, the Labour Party , like the Psalmist’s rejected cornerstone , suddenly rose to national political relevance. In a dramatic and unexpected leap, it emerged as a major force in the presidential and federal legislative elections, securing a strong third position.
This political surge was attributed to several factors, though certainly not to the strength of the labour movement itself. While some observers pointed to emotional and sentimental mobilization, often framed around ethnic and religious sentiments, others argued that the party’s success was largely driven by the personality and popularity of its presidential candidate, whose political stature overshadowed the party structure.
Both interpretations may contain elements of truth. However, one fact remains undeniable: Peter Obi contested under the banner of the Labour Party, a party historically established through the efforts of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and other labour organizations.
Looking ahead, what is required is not nostalgia, sentiment, or personality politics, but the emergence of a genuinely ideological Labour Party; one that is consciously rooted in Leftist principles, class consciousness, and social justice.
Such a party must be:
* Ideologically driven, not personality-centered
*
Structurally grounded in the Left, with a clear political philosophy
* Cadre-based, built around disciplined, politically educated organizers
The Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC), the Trade Union Congress (TUC), and affiliated labour bodies must form the institutional backbone of this project, providing leadership, structure, and legitimacy at all levels: from branch and ward structures to state and national leadership.
The Labour Party must undergo serious reorganization - rebuilding its ranks, reactivating its structures, and deploying its cadres into every community, ward, and constituency across the country to mobilize genuine grassroots support.
Only through this process can a true workers’ party emerge, not merely a platform for electoral contests, but a political movement capable of transforming power relations and advancing the historic struggle for social, economic, and political justice in Nigeria.
This moment is not just about Peter Obi’s exit.
It is about whether the Labour Party will remain an electoral vehicle, or become a revolutionary instrument of working-class emancipation.
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