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The Labour Party on Wednesday said it had been “liberated” by the defection of its 2023 presidential candidate, Peter Obi, to the African Democratic Congress (ADC) and apologised to Nigerians for presenting Obi as its presidential candidate in 2023.
In a statement signed by its National Publicity Secretary, Obiora Ifoh, the party said it had effectively parted ways with Obi and some of his supporters since September 2024, following internal disagreements and disciplinary actions.
“The party is finally liberated by this defection and as party leaders, we count it as a blessing,” the Labour Party said.
The party also added that it had previously urged Obi and his “disgruntled followers” to exit the party if they were unable to work with the party’s leadership.
“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 party also criticised Obi’s remarks at his Enugu meeting following the defection, describing his speech as “lacklustre” and adding that it wondered what new thing Obi intended to sell to Nigerians.
The Labour Party also blamed its internal crisis on Obi and Abia State governor Alex Otti, accusing them of sponsoring an “insurrection” against the party’s national chairman, Julius Abure. The party said it expected Otti to follow Obi out of the party, noting that the governor, even with his suspension, is still loitering around.
“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.”
LP also dismissed the political meeting held by Obi in Enugu, claiming it was largely boycotted by prominent political and traditional leaders in the South-East.
It described those in attendance as “spent forces” and said the turnout signalled that Obi’s future presidential or vice-presidential ambition was “a failed project from inception”.
“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 to 2023.”
The party, however, apologised to Nigerians for presenting Obi as its presidential candidate in 2023.
“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,” the party said.
The Labour Party added that it is now working to identify “the best prospect” to help return Nigeria to “its glorious days.”
