A former Labour Party presidential aspirant, Peter Agada, has defected to the Young Progressives Party following his disqualification from the LP’s presidential primary. Agada unveiled his new political platform on Monday in Abuja in the presence of representatives of the Nigeria Labour Congress, the Trade Union Congress, members of his Presidential Campaign Council and The Movement Nigeria, a political advocacy group backing his presidential ambition. Speaking at the event, Agada accused the Labour Party leadership of acting in bad faith after allegedly encouraging him to pursue the party’s presidential ticket and contribute financially to its activities before excluding him from the race. According to him, party leaders had assured him there was no restriction on aspirants seeking the presidential ticket before he obtained the expression of interest and nomination forms and subsequently underwent screening. He said he was screened for the presidential race on May 6, 2026, after the party’s national convention in Umuahia, Abia State. Agada further claimed that he contributed to the funding of the convention after receiving assurances from party leaders that they would support his presidential ambition. “I spent considerable funds to commence building my nationwide presidential campaign structures after a successful screening on May 6, 2026, an exercise which affirmed my impeccable qualifications to run for the highest office in Nigeria under the platform of the Labour Party,” he said. He alleged that the party later informed him, barely 24 hours before its presidential primary, that he had been disqualified because he is from the North-Central geopolitical zone. According to him, the party claimed the presidential ticket had been zoned to the South, a decision he said was not provided for in the party’s constitution. Explaining his decision to join the YPP, Agada said he sought a political platform that aligns with his principles and commitment to truth and justice. “I am delighted to inform you that I have now found all these qualities in the Young Progressives Party. I pray that this will continue to be so in our journey together to the future,” he said. He also defended himself against concerns raised by supporters who contributed funds to his presidential project, insisting that he acted transparently throughout the process. He disclosed that legal action had been initiated against the Labour Party over the disputed funds linked to his aborted presidential bid. The development comes days after Agada’s Presidential Campaign Council accused the Labour Party of collecting N150m from him despite allegedly knowing he would not be allowed to contest because of a decision to zone the presidential ticket to the South. The Labour Party, however, dismissed the allegations, insisting it acted in accordance with its rules and procedures in the conduct of its presidential nomination process.