LABOUR PARTY HAILS OBI’S DEFECTION, SEEKS FORGIVENESS FROM NIGERIANS OVER 2023 CANDIDACY

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By Aishat Momoh. O.

The Labour Party has described the defection of its 2023 presidential candidate, Mr. Peter Obi, to the African Democratic Congress (ADC) as a moment of “liberation” for the party, while tendering an apology to Nigerians for presenting what it now admits was an unfitting candidate in the last general election.

In a statement issued by its National Publicity Secretary, Mr. Obiora Ifoh, the party leadership said it had taken note of Obi’s exit from the party alongside some of his supporters, adding that the move came long after the party had effectively parted ways with him.

According to the statement, the Labour Party disclosed that it had severed ties with Obi and some of his loyalists in the National Assembly as far back as September 2024, following prolonged internal disagreements and alleged anti-party activities.

The party claimed it had repeatedly urged Obi and his supporters to leave if they were unwilling to work with the party leadership, noting that several lawmakers had already been suspended and similar sanctions were being considered for the former presidential candidate before external interventions halted the process.

The statement further accused Obi and Abia State Governor, Dr. Alex Otti, of sponsoring internal unrest aimed at destabilising the Julius Abure-led leadership of the party. While expressing surprise that Governor Otti had yet to formally exit the party despite his suspension, the Labour Party urged him to follow Obi out.

Reacting to Obi’s defection rally in Enugu, the party described the event as poorly attended and largely boycotted by key political and traditional stakeholders in the South-East, alleging that those present were political “spent forces” with little grassroots relevance.

The Labour Party argued that the development signalled a loss of political appeal by Obi since the 2023 election and warned that the South-East should reassess its political choices ahead of future elections. It further claimed that the zone suffered political marginalisation under the current administration after placing its trust in Obi during the last presidential race.

Concluding the statement, the party appealed to Nigerians for forgiveness, admitting that fielding Obi as its presidential candidate in 2023 was a grave political error. It assured the public that efforts were underway to identify a new leadership and candidate capable of restoring Nigeria to what it described as its “glorious days.”

The statement was signed by Mr. Obiora Ifoh, National Publicity Secretary of the Labour Party.