If the party must redeem its glory, it should deviate from playing identity politics, encourage grassroots politics, work as a strong opposition party, and solicit members’ commitment. Any deviation from all these crucial issues may spell disaster for the party.
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The emergence of Peter Obi, former governor of Anambra state, as Labour Party’s presidential candidate in the recently concluded presidential election, once again popularized the moribund Labour Party.
Prior, the Labour Party did not have national colouration and the party had also failed to thrive in the grassroots. Formed in 2002, it was originally known as the Party for Social Democracy before its name was officially changed to the Labour Party after the 2003 general election.
Perhaps the only significant event that predates its popularity in 2022 is the emergence of the then Olusegun Mimiko, who 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.
When Olusegun Mimiko left the Labour Party for the PDP in 2020, it seemed the party suffered a huge blow, until 2022 and 2023 when the party gained some political eminence.
Two key events boosted the party’s eminence in 2023: firstly, Peter Obi’s emergence as the party’s presidential candidate; and secondly, the emergence of candidates under the Labour Party.
For instance, Gbadebo Rhodes-Vivour emerged as the governorship candidate of the party in Lagos state, and Alex Otti as the governorship candidate in Abia state.
Currently, there is only one elected governor, Alex Otti, the Labour Governorship candidate of Abia State, who became the first Governor-Elect of the party in the gubernatorial election. He is the only governor-elect of the party in all the thirty-six states of the federation. In the same vein, the Labour Party currently ‘has’ 35/360 seats in the House of Representatives and 8/109 seats in the House of Senate.
Also, the number of Labour Party’s sworn-in officials, who will soon be occupying seats in state Houses of Assembly across the country, seems to be impressive statistics.
These figures are a step in the right direction if the Labour Party is ready to redeem its glory. The steps to do all this must be strategic, and geared toward promoting and defending social democratic principles and ideals to achieve social justice, progress, and unity in the country.
First, the Labour Party must strive to deviate itself from playing identity politics.
Otherwise, the party would appear as an ethnically motivated party whose desire is to appeal to people in some particular parts of the country. The recent uproar that permeated the gubernatorial election in Lagos is one.
If the Labour Party wants to demonstrate itself as a national party that accommodates all politically conscious citizens in the country, its membership composition, both in people voting or being voted for, should not be ethnically motivated and must integrate all members from bigger and lesser ethnic groups.
Secondly, grassroots politics must be seriously encouraged among its members.
This is another step the party can take to boost its strength in every political sphere and stratum in the country. The youth must be supported in their desire to contest for councillorship and chairmanship positions in local government areas.
It is also noteworthy that the Labour Party, especially under Peter Obi, has distinguished itself as a party that has the interests of the youths at heart; so, it is now highly imperative for the party to encourage these young men and women, who have interest in contesting for elections, by reducing the price list for different elective position nomination forms.
Thirdly, now that the Labour Party has affirmed its status as one of the three major political parties in Nigeria, alongside the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) and the All Progressives Congress (APC), it is high time the party started living up to this standard.
It seems to me that if the Labour Party works as a strong opposition party, unlike the ‘dying’ PDP that Nigeria currently has, it will soon boast of winning more states in other parts of the country. This, in turn, will bolster the party’s currently rising fame.
Another important issue to consider is the members’ commitment to remain in the party and work collectively in building the party as a formidable party in subsequent elections in the country.
If the commitment of the members of the party dwindles, the party is heading towards an imminent death. It is not enough to win elections, key commitment and efforts must be put in place by the members such that the party can keep growing until the next general or gubernatorial elections.
Lastly, moving forward, the followers or staunch supporters of the party must refrain from spreading divisive rhetoric and ethnic profiling.
It now behooves the leaders of the party to communicate ways in which the party can build and advance itself as a national party that cares about national unity.
In conclusion, the Labour Party is striving almost effortlessly as a party that the majority of the youth embrace and like.
If the party must redeem its glory, it should deviate from playing identity politics, encourage grassroots politics, work as a strong opposition party, and solicit members’ commitment. Any deviation from all these crucial issues may spell disaster for the party.
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