The Labour Party (LP) has come out swinging against Deji Adeyanju, a human rights lawyer, for making serious but false claims that the party is secretly planning to team up with the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) for the 2027 general elections. The party hit back hard on Friday, November 22, calling Adeyanju’s comments “ridiculous,” “untrue,” and a criminal defamation.
Adeyanju made the claims in a video that spread like wildfire on social media. He said that the LP, led by Julius Abure, was negotiating with President Bola Tinubu and the APC. The Labour Party quickly set the record straight in a statement by its National Publicity Secretary, Obiorah Ifoh, saying that there was no truth to the allegations.
“The leadership of the Labour Party has been drawn to a video making the rounds in social media where a lawyer, Deji Adeyanju, made disparaging and slandering comments against our party and particularly, our National Chairman, Barrister Julius Abure. My first response is to say that all what he said about the Labour Party is untrue, lies and unfounded,” the statement read.
The Labour Party stressed that, after the 2023 general elections, they’ve stayed focused on holding the government accountable, challenging the status quo, and offering solutions. They pointed out that for Adeyanju to suggest they were “working” with the APC was a blatant lie and damaging to the party’s reputation.
After addressing the false claims, the Labour Party demanded that Adeyanju provide solid evidence to back up his story. They also told him he could either prove his allegations or apologize to the party and its millions of members.
The Labour Party statement said:
“We are therefore challenging Deji Adeyanju and any other like persons, to come up with facts and proofs that either the party leadership or Mr. Abure has worked, is working or intends to work for President Ahmed Bola Tinubu or his party, the APC in the 2027.”
They also made it clear that they consider these defamatory comments as a direct attack on the Labour Party’s hard-earned reputation.
“We are therefore calling on Mr Adeyanju who ought to know the grave consequences of a defamatory act, to without delay provide facts and evidences to prove that Labour Party has been ‘bought’ over by President Tinubu.”
The LP concluded by urging Adeyanju to either take back his words and apologize, or face the consequences of his actions.
