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By Lizzy Chirkpi
The Labour Party (LP) has accused activist, Deji Adeyanju of orchestrating a smear campaign against its 2023 presidential candidate, Peter Obi, in what it described as a calculated move to secure political relevance ahead of the 2027 general elections.
In a statement on Tuesday, the party’s interim National Publicity Secretary, Prince Tony Akeni, alleged that Adeyanju’s recent claims particularly those reportedly aired during a national television interview, were “false, malicious and driven by unprincipled ambition.”
He said, “Ambition without principle is worse than substance abuse. Mr. Adeyanju has resorted to blackmail as a political strategy because of his vaulting ambition and desperation to ingratiate himself with the Presidency. “
The LP said Adeyanju had misrepresented a private 2022 meeting with Obi, facilitated by journalist Ike Abonyi, to allege that Obi confessed to investing Anambra State funds into a private business while serving as governor.
According to Akeni, Abonyi who witnessed the meeting has publicly refuted Adeyanju’s claims.
“At no point did Peter Obi admit to any act of corruption, nor was any bribe offered. Mr. Adeyanju has not contradicted this account,” the statement added.
The party further criticised what it termed Adeyanju’s “selective activism,” accusing him of remaining silent during a violent invasion of the Nigeria Union of Journalists’ headquarters in November 2024 but “regularly portraying the Obidient movement as unruly and intolerant.”
Recall that Adeyanju in recent months, clashed with Obi’s supporters, accusing them of intolerance and of attempting to silence dissenting voices. The LP’s statement marks the latest in a series of exchanges between the activist and opposition figures over alleged political alignments with President Bola Tinubu’s allies.