Peter Obi, the Labour Party’s presidential candidate in the 2023 general elections, has denied any merger agreement with the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), the New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP), or any other political group.
Speaking at a press conference in Abuja on Thursday, Obi clarified that no formal deal had been reached. However, he emphasized the need for unity among all Nigerians, regardless of political affiliation, to challenge what he described as the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC)’s mismanagement of national resources.
Call for Unity and Reform
Obi urged Nigerians to unite to address pressing issues such as insecurity, corruption, and the rising cost of governance. He described the nation’s security situation as “unfortunate,” lamenting the daily loss of lives to banditry, terrorism, and kidnappings.
Criticizing the Tinubu administration, Obi argued that corruption remains rampant, despite government claims to the contrary. He highlighted excessive foreign travels by officials in 2024 as an example of poor fiscal management, contributing to a growing public debt burden.
Context of the 2023 Election
Obi, a first-time presidential candidate, finished third in the 2023 elections with 6,101,533 votes, a historic showing for the Labour Party. President Bola Tinubu of the APC won with 8,794,726 votes, followed by PDP’s Atiku Abubakar, who garnered 6,984,520 votes.
Rabiu Kwankwaso of the NNPP secured fourth place with 1,496,687 votes, winning his home state of Kano. Both Obi and Kwankwaso were previously members of the PDP but left the party due to irreconcilable differences.
Future Outlook
Obi reiterated his commitment to building a better Nigeria and appealed to all Nigerians to focus on addressing the challenges facing the nation. While he dismissed current merger speculations, he left the door open for future collaborations aimed at fostering national unity and progress.
For now, Obi’s statement serves to clarify his position and refocus the conversation on the urgent need for solutions to Nigeria’s socio-economic challenges.
