The Labour Party (LP) has described the defection of its 2023 presidential candidate, Mr. Peter Obi, to the African Democratic Congress (ADC) as a relief, declaring that the party has now been “finally liberated.”
In a statement issued on Wednesday by its National Publicity Secretary, Mr. Obiora Ifoh, the party said it had long parted ways with Obi and some of his supporters, insisting that his exit only formalised an existing separation.
According to the statement, the LP leadership noted Obi’s defection and his speech at the event in Enugu, which it described as uninspiring, while questioning what new ideas he intends to present to Nigerians.
The party said it had been expecting Obi’s departure since September 2024, when it claimed to have severed ties with him and some Labour Party lawmakers who allegedly worked against the party’s leadership. It added that several legislators had been suspended for anti-party activities and that similar action would have been taken against Obi but for the intervention of “well-meaning Nigerians.”
The LP leadership blamed its internal crisis on Obi and Abia State Governor, Dr. Alex Otti, accusing both men of sponsoring actions aimed at undermining the Julius Abure-led leadership. The party expressed surprise that Governor Otti, whom it said had been suspended, was yet to leave the party, urging him to follow Obi out.
The statement further claimed that the political gathering held in Enugu to mark Obi’s defection was largely boycotted by prominent political and traditional figures from the South East, describing those in attendance as “spent political forces.” It argued that this was an indication that any future presidential or vice-presidential ambition by Obi was already doomed.
The party also alleged that the South East suffered political setbacks under the administration of President Bola Tinubu because the zone overwhelmingly supported Obi in the 2023 general election. It cited what it described as limited ministerial appointments and continued marginalisation of the region in infrastructure allocation as reasons the South East should rethink its political choices.
In a rare admission, the Labour Party apologised to Nigerians for fielding Obi as its presidential candidate in 2023, saying events had shown it made “the greatest political mistake.”
“On behalf of the party, we plead for forgiveness from Nigerians,” the statement said, adding that the party was already working on presenting a better alternative capable of restoring Nigeria to “its glorious days.”
