The leadership of the Labour Party has reacted to the defection of its 2023 presidential candidate, Peter Obi, and some of his supporters to the African Democratic Congress (ADC), saying it has taken note of the development.
Obi, a former governor of Anambra State, alongside some supporters including serving federal lawmakers, officially joined the ADC at an event held in Enugu State on Wednesday.
Reacting to the move, the Labour Party described Obi’s speech at the event as “lacklustre,” questioning what fresh ideas he intends to present to Nigerians.
The party stated that Obi has lost the “charm that had endeared him to the people prior 2023.”
In a statement issued by the national publicity secretary of the Julius Abure faction, Obiora Ifoh, the party apologised to Nigerians for fielding what it described as an “unfitting presidential candidate in 2023.”
The statement also questioned why Obi and his supporters delayed their exit, noting that the party had already parted ways with him and some of his supporters in the National Assembly since September 2024, adding that it had been waiting for the defection.
The party said it considered Obi’s exit a form of liberation, describing it as a blessing and stating that it had previously advised Obi and his followers to leave if they could not work with the party leadership.
According to the statement, several lawmakers had been suspended for anti-party activities, and Obi would have faced similar action but for the intervention of well-meaning Nigerians.
The party further alleged that the internal crisis within its ranks was caused by Obi and the Abia State governor, Alex Otti, whom it accused of sponsoring an insurrection against the Julius Abure-led leadership. It expressed surprise that Otti, despite being suspended, had not followed Obi out of the party.
It also claimed that the defection ceremony in Enugu was largely boycotted by prominent political and traditional institutions in the South East, describing those present as political figures without grassroots support.
The statement warned that this development signalled the failure of Obi’s presidential or vice-presidential ambition, insisting that he had lost the popularity he once enjoyed before 2023.
The party added that the South East suffered politically under President Bola Tinubu’s administration because of its trust in Obi during the 2023 elections, citing what it described as inadequate ministerial representation and continued marginalisation in infrastructure allocation.
In its concluding remarks, the Labour Party urged Nigerians to pay attention to the party, admitting that presenting Obi as its candidate in 2023 was a major political error. It appealed for forgiveness and said it was already working to identify a credible alternative capable of restoring Nigeria to better days.
