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Seeks Nigerians’ Forgiveness for Fielding Ex-Anambra Governor as 2023 Presidential Candidate
- Safiu Kehinde
The Labour Party has declared the defection of its 2023 Presidential candidate, Peter Obi, to the African Democratic Congress (ADC) as a liberation and blessing to the party.
NPO Reported that Obi had on Wednesday defected to the ADC ahead of the 2027 General Election.
The former Anambra state governor was received by the leadership of the ADC in Enugu.
Reaction to the development in a statement issued by it National Publicity Secretary, Obiorah, the Labour Party expressed relieve with the departure of Obi from the party.
Obiorah disclosed that the party had since parted ways with him since September 2024.
He alleged that the former Anambra governor had long been urged to leave the party alongside his loyalists and lawmakers suspended by the party over anti-party activities.
“For us in Labour Party, we wondered why it took them this long to make the move because we have since September 2024, parted ways with Peter Obi and some of his blind supporters in the National Assembly.
“We have patiently waited for this day. The party is finally liberated by this defection and as Party leaders, we count it as a blessing.
“It will be on record that the leadership of the Labour Party had since urged Obi and his disgruntled followers to exit the party if they were unable to work with the leadership of the party.
“As a matter of fact, the party had suspended many of the lawmakers for anti party and was clearly going to mete the same treatment on the Presidential Candidate but for the intervention of some well meaning Nigerians.” The Labour Party’s spokesperson wrote.
Obiorah further accused Obi and Abia State Governor, Alex Otti, of being responsible for the current leadership crisis in the party.
The consequences of their actions, according to him, is the marginalisation and poor representation of the South East.
The party also urged Otti to join Obi and leave the party.
“The crisis we had in Labour Party was caused by Peter Obi and the Abia state governor, Dr. Alex Otti. It was them that sponsored the insurrection against the Julius Abure leadership.
“We had also expected Governor Otti to follow Obi out of the party. We are surprised that even though he has been suspended from the party, he is still loitering around.
“It is still not too late for him to follow his political leader. The party also warned that the charade which took place today in Enugu was largely boycotted by prominent political and traditional institutions in the South East.” The statement read further.
On Obi’s chances at the ADC, the Labour Party labelled him a failed project, stressing that he has lost the charm that garnered him support in 2023.
The Llparty accused Obi of being responsible for the alleged sidelining of the South East in terms of appointments by President Bola Tinubu.
“All we saw were mere political spent forces who cannot win in their wards should there be an election today.
“This is clearly a danger signal that the Obi presidency (or Vice Presidency) is already a failed project from inception. He has clearly lost the charm that had endeared him to the people prior 2023.
“He must be told that the South East lost out completely in the President Ahmed Tinubu’s government because they trusted and believed in him in 2023.
“While some states of the federation boast as much as five ministers, the entire states in the South East was given a paltry five ministerial slot.
“The marginalization against the zone has continued even in infrastructure allocation and I wonder if the Southeast will repeat the same political harakiri again.” Obiorah wrote.
The Labour Party sought Nigerians forgiveness for fielding Obi as its candidate in 2023, describing it as a political mistake.
“Finally, we urge Nigerians to watch out for the Labour Party.
“We gave Nigerians a candidate we thought was good for the nation in 2023, but time has since proved that we made the greatest political mistake.
“We plead for forgiveness from Nigerians. We are already working out the best prospect that we hope will bring Nigeria back to its glorious days.” The statement added.