LP declares Obi’s exit a relief, apologises for 2023 ticket, dismisses ADC rally as ‘charade

The Julius Abure-led National Working Committee of the Labour Party (LP) has described the defection of its 2023 presidential candidate, Peter Obi, to the African Democratic Congress (ADC) as a relief, saying the party has been “liberated” and now regrets fielding him in the last general election.

In a statement issued in Abuja on Wednesday, the party’s National Publicity Secretary, Obiora Ifoh, said Obi’s exit merely formalised a political separation that had occurred months earlier amid the party’s protracted leadership crisis.

“The leadership of the Labour Party took note of the defection of its 2023 presidential candidate, Peter Obi, and a few of his supporters to the African Democratic Congress,” Ifoh said.

According to him, the party was neither surprised nor troubled by Obi’s move, insisting that the relationship had effectively ended since September 2024.

“We also took note of the lacklustre speech Obi made at the occasion and wondered what new ideas he intends to sell to Nigerians. For us in the Labour Party, we are surprised it took them this long to make the move because we had already parted ways with Peter Obi and some of his blind supporters in the National Assembly,” the statement read.

“We have patiently waited for this day. The party is finally liberated by this defection, and we count it as a blessing.”

Ifoh said the Labour Party had repeatedly asked Obi and his loyalists to leave the party if they could not work with the Abure-led leadership, stressing that disciplinary action had already been taken against several lawmakers aligned with the former presidential candidate.

“It will be on record that the leadership of the Labour Party urged Obi and his disgruntled followers to exit the party if they were unable to work with the leadership,” he said.

“As a matter of fact, the party had suspended many lawmakers for anti-party activities and was prepared to take similar action against the presidential candidate, but for the intervention of some well-meaning Nigerians.”

The statement also blamed Obi and Abia State governor, Alex Otti, for the internal crisis that engulfed the party, accusing them of sponsoring efforts to destabilise the current leadership.

“We expected Governor Otti to follow Obi out of the party. We are surprised that even though he has been suspended, he is still loitering around. It is not too late for him to follow his political leader,” the party added.

The Abure-led leadership further dismissed Obi’s defection rally in Enugu as poorly attended, claiming it was shunned by key political and traditional stakeholders in the South-East.

“The charade that took place in Enugu was largely boycotted by prominent political and traditional institutions in the South-East. What we saw were political spent forces who cannot win elections even in their wards,” Ifoh said.

He argued that the development was a sign that Obi’s presidential ambition had already lost public appeal.

“This is a clear danger signal that the Obi presidency—or vice-presidency—is a failed project from inception. He has lost the charm that endeared him to Nigerians before 2023,” the statement said.

In a sweeping critique, the Labour Party leadership claimed that Obi’s 2023 presidential bid contributed to the South-East’s limited representation in President Bola Tinubu’s administration.

“He must be told that the South-East lost out completely in Tinubu’s government because they trusted and believed in him in 2023,” the party said.

“While some states have up to five ministers, the entire South-East got only five ministerial slots. The marginalisation has continued in infrastructure allocation, and one wonders if the region will repeat the same political mistake.”

The party apologised to Nigerians for fielding Obi in the 2023 election, describing the decision as a major political error.

“We ask Nigerians for forgiveness for presenting an unfitting presidential candidate in 2023. Time has shown that it was the greatest political mistake of the party,” Ifoh said.

Concluding, the Labour Party appealed to Nigerians to give it another chance, promising to present what it described as a more credible alternative in future elections.

“We plead for forgiveness from Nigerians and assure them that the Labour Party is already working to produce better prospects that will help return Nigeria to its glorious days,” the statement added.

Peter Obi formally announced his defection to the ADC at a rally held at the Nike Lake Resort, Enugu State, where he called on Nigerians and opposition forces to unite under a broad coalition to rescue the country from poverty, disunity and democratic decline.

The former Anambra State governor also accused the current political leadership of state capture, economic mismanagement and the erosion of democratic values.