Senator Seriake Dickson has met with Labour Party presidential candidate Peter Obi to resolve months of internal party squabbles. The meeting, which lasted about three hours, took place at Dickson's residence on Thursday.
Dickson, a former Bayelsa State governor, had earlier complained about attacks from some of Obi's supporters. He said the attacks were happening despite both men sharing the same political goal of unseating the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
In a statement after the meeting, Dickson said all contentious issues were discussed and amicably resolved. He didn't give details of what was agreed, but said both leaders remain committed to strengthening the party for future elections.
The meeting comes at a time when the Labour Party is struggling with internal divisions. The party, which shocked Nigeria by winning a significant share of the presidential vote in 2023, has been plagued by factional fights since then.
Dickson appealed to party members to stop bickering and name-calling. "I want to use this opportunity again to call on all members of our party to stop the bickering and name-calling and focus on the bigger picture," he said.
The senator said he and Obi have always been on the same page about the bigger picture: winning elections and rescuing Nigeria from APC misgovernance. He assured members that consultations among party leaders will continue.
"In the course of that meeting, we reviewed the activities of our party and discussed a few recent issues that have been a source of concern to all sides, and we amicably resolved all the issues," Dickson said.
The Labour Party has been in turmoil since the 2023 elections. The party's national chairman, Julius Abure, has faced challenges to his leadership, with some factions calling for his removal. The party also lost several key members who defected to other parties.
Obi, who came third in the 2023 presidential election behind Bola Tinubu and Atiku Abubakar, has been trying to hold the party together. He has repeatedly called for unity among party members.
Dickson, a founding member of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), defected to the Labour Party in 2024. His move was seen as a major boost for the Labour Party, given his experience as a two-term governor and senator.
But his relationship with Obi's supporters has been rocky. Some of them accused Dickson of not doing enough to promote the party's interests. Others questioned his loyalty, given his long history with the PDP.
Thursday's meeting appears to have calmed tensions for now. But the Labour Party still faces an uphill battle to present a united front ahead of the 2027 elections.
The party will need to resolve its leadership crisis and build a strong structure across the country. With the APC and PDP already gearing up for the next election cycle, the Labour Party can't afford more internal fights.