A legal battle is brewing in the Labour Party. Peter Obi has received a seven-day ultimatum to withdraw an alleged defamatory statement or face a ₦50 billion lawsuit.
ABUJA, NIGERIA — Peter Obi, the Labour Party’s presidential candidate in the 2023 general election, has received a seven-day ultimatum to apologise and retract an alleged defamatory statement made against Abayomi Arabambi, a factional National Publicity Secretary of the Labour Party. According to a legal notice reportedly issued on behalf of Arabambi, failure to comply within the stipulated period could result in a ₦50 billion defamation lawsuit.
According to the legal notice, Arabambi alleged that statements attributed to Peter Obi damaged his reputation and exposed him to public ridicule. His legal team reportedly demanded a public retraction of the alleged remarks and an unreserved apology to be published through appropriate media platforms within seven days.
The notice further stated that if Peter Obi fails to meet the demands within the specified period, Arabambi will commence legal proceedings to seek ₦50 billion in damages for the alleged harm caused to his reputation. According to the lawyers, the proposed lawsuit aims to protect their client’s public image and seek legal redress through the courts.
The dispute comes at a time when the Labour Party continues to experience internal disagreements involving its leadership and key stakeholders. The party has witnessed several legal and political disagreements since the 2023 general election, with different factions making competing claims over leadership positions and party decisions. These disagreements have resulted in multiple court cases and public exchanges among party members.
The development means the disagreement between Peter Obi and Abayomi Arabambi could move from the political arena into the courtroom if no settlement is reached before the expiration of the seven-day ultimatum. A court action may further draw attention to the ongoing leadership disputes within the Labour Party while providing an opportunity for both parties to present their positions through the judicial process.
