By Jude Opara
The Labour Party (LP) has distanced itself from Abayomi Arabambi over his legal action seeking access to the academic records of its former presidential candidate, Peter Obi.
The party said Arabambi, who has reportedly instituted a suit involving the West African Examinations Council (WAEC), the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) and the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN), is no longer a member of the Labour Party and therefore did not initiate the case in any official capacity on behalf of the party.
In a statement issued by its National Publicity Secretary, Ken Eluma Asogwa, the LP said it initially refrained from commenting on the matter when reports emerged on social media.
The party explained that it decided to respond after some mainstream media reports described Arabambi as a Labour Party chieftain.
According to the LP, Arabambi was among 25 members suspended by its National Executive Council (NEC) on March 18, 2026, over alleged infractions bordering on anti-party activities.
The party said the suspension was subsequently ratified by its National Convention on April 28, 2026, after which the affected individuals ceased to be members of the party.
It added that no organ of the LP had since revisited or reversed the decision concerning those expelled.
“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, having long severed ties with the Labour Party,” the statement said.
The party further warned that anyone presenting Arabambi as a representative or chieftain of the LP was doing so without authorization.
“If Abayomi Arabambi has presented himself to the public as a chieftain or representative of the Labour Party, the general public is hereby notified that such representation is entirely unauthorized and, prima facie, amounts to impersonation,” the party said.
The LP disclosed that its lawyers were reviewing the matter to determine possible legal and other actions, including a potential petition to relevant law enforcement agencies.
However, the party stressed that its clarification about Arabambi’s membership status should not be interpreted as a position on the substance of the case involving Peter Obi’s academic records.
The LP noted that Obi is no longer a member of the party and said it would therefore refrain from commenting on the merits or otherwise of the claims before the court.
The party said its statement was intended solely to clarify Arabambi’s relationship with the LP and prevent the public from assuming that he was acting on behalf of the party.
The development adds another layer to the controversy surrounding the legal challenge over Obi’s academic records, with the Labour Party now seeking to clearly separate itself from the litigant and his actions.
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