Nigeria’s opposition Labour Party (LP) has formally distanced itself from Abayomi Arabambi, a litigant who dragged multiple public institutions to court demanding the release of academic credentials belonging to the party’s 2023 presidential candidate, Peter Obi.
The legal action—which targets the West African Examinations Council (WAEC), the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), and the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN)—has sparked controversy after several media outlets described Arabambi as an “LP chieftain.”
In a statement issued on Monday in Abuja, the Labour Party clarified that Arabambi was expelled from its ranks months ago and possesses no authority to institute legal proceedings on behalf of the party or its membership.
The Labour Party revealed that Arabambi’s membership was formally terminated following disciplinary proceedings earlier this year.
According to the party’s National Publicity Secretary, Ken Eluma Asogwa, Arabambi ceased to be a member when the National Executive Council (NEC) suspended 25 individuals on 18 March 2026 over alleged anti-party activities. That decision was subsequently ratified at the party’s National Convention on 28 April 2026.
“Abayomi Arabambi is not a member of the Labour Party and could not have instituted any action in court as a member of the party,” Asogwa stated.
The party emphasized that no internal organ has revisited or reversed the convention’s decision, making Arabambi’s expulsion absolute.
The Labour Party warned that presenting Arabambi as an active party official misleads the public and undermines party hierarchy. The party leadership confirmed it is weighing criminal impersonation charges against him.
“The Labour Party warns that if Arabambi presented himself as an authorised representative or chieftain of the LP, such representation was entirely unauthorised and could amount to impersonation,” the statement added.
“Our lawyers are reviewing the matter and considering appropriate legal steps, including a possible petition to law enforcement authorities.”
Despite its forceful repudiation, the Labour Party explicitly declined to address the substance of Arabambi’s court filings against Obi’s academic institutions, noting that its intervention was strictly focused on correcting the public record regarding his political affiliation.
“The press release is issued solely to clarify the alleged relationship between the litigant and the Labour Party and has no bearing whatsoever on the validity or otherwise of his claims against Mr. Peter Obi before the court,” the party noted.
The dispute highlights the friction within opposition circles as political parties and prospective candidates position themselves ahead of Nigeria’s 2027 general elections.
Peter Obi, a former governor of Anambra State whose youth-led “Obidient” movement disrupted traditional political dynamics during the 2023 election cycle, has faced persistent scrutiny from political adversaries over his educational history and administrative record.
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