The fragile peace within the Labour Party (LP) has once again shattered as a full-blown leadership crisis erupts over the party’s governorship ticket in Anambra State, threatening its chances in the November 8, 2025 election. At the heart of the latest political storm is the Independent National Electoral Commission's (INEC) controversial recognition of George Moghalu as the official candidate of the party—a move that has been met with outright rejection by the faction loyal to Abia State Governor, Dr. Alex Otti, and the party’s 2023 presidential candidate, Mr. Peter Obi.
Sources close to the party leadership revealed that the decision to present Moghalu—a former stalwart of the All Progressives Congress (APC)—as the Labour Party candidate was taken without the consensus of the National Working Committee, nor the knowledge of key stakeholders in the South-East. This development has not only intensified the internal rift but also cast doubts on the transparency of the party’s candidate selection process.
The Otti-Obi bloc, which has been pushing for internal reforms and party discipline, described Moghalu’s emergence as a political ambush engineered by the Julius Abure-led national leadership, which they accuse of colluding with external forces to hijack the party's structures ahead of the polls. They insist that Moghalu neither participated in the primaries recognized by their faction nor holds the ideological convictions that align with the party’s progressive agenda.
Reacting to the unfolding drama, a spokesperson for the Otti-Obi camp warned that the Labour Party risks alienating its grassroots supporters and loyal members in Anambra State if it continues down this divisive path. “We cannot allow an APC transplant to fly our flag through the backdoor. The people of Anambra deserve better,” he said.
Meanwhile, Moghalu’s camp has hailed the INEC recognition as a victory for democracy, arguing that due process was followed and that his candidacy offers the party the best chance of victory against the ruling All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) and the increasingly resurgent APC. They maintain that Moghalu’s political experience and administrative capacity make him the most viable option.
Party insiders, however, warn that if the internal wrangling is not resolved swiftly, Labour Party may be heading toward another round of legal battles, decertification threats, and potential electoral disaster—similar to what played out in Imo and Ogun States in recent election cycles.
Already, there are reports that both factions are preparing to head to court to contest the validity of INEC’s decision, setting the stage for what could become a protracted legal and political war. With the Anambra election barely six months away, political watchers believe the party’s inability to present a united front could give rival parties a clear path to victory.
As the storm brews, many are calling on Mr. Peter Obi, whose towering political influence in the South-East remains intact, to wade into the crisis decisively and prevent the total collapse of the Labour Party’s structure in Anambra. Whether he and Governor Otti can steady the ship remains to be seen—but one thing is clear: the Labour Party is once again at a dangerous crossroads.