The Julius Abure-led National Working Committee of the Labour Party has described the defection of its 2023 presidential candidate, Peter Obi, to the African Democratic Congress (ADC) as a “liberation,” saying the party regrets presenting him as its flagbearer in the last general election.
In a statement issued in Abuja on Wednesday, December 31, the party’s National Publicity Secretary, Obiora Ifoh, said Obi’s exit merely confirmed an internal separation that had already taken place amid the party’s prolonged leadership crisis.
“The Labour Party leadership has taken note of the defection of its 2023 presidential candidate, Peter Obi, and some of his supporters to the ADC. We also observed the uninspiring speech he delivered at the event and questioned what new ideas he intends to offer Nigerians,” the statement said.
According to Ifoh, the party had effectively parted ways with Obi and his loyalists since September 2024 and wondered why the defection took so long.
“We have patiently waited for this moment. The party is finally liberated by this defection, and as leaders of the party, we consider it a blessing,” he added.
Ifoh said the Labour Party had repeatedly advised Obi and his supporters to leave if they could not work with the Abure-led leadership, noting that disciplinary measures had already been taken against some lawmakers aligned with the former presidential candidate.
“The party had suspended several lawmakers for anti-party activities and would have extended the same action to the presidential candidate but for the intervention of some well-meaning Nigerians,” he said.
The statement further accused Obi and Abia State Governor, Alex Otti, of fueling the party’s internal crisis by allegedly sponsoring efforts to remove the current leadership. The party said it expected Otti to follow Obi out of the party but claimed he remained despite being suspended.
“We are surprised that Governor Otti is still around even after his suspension. It is not too late for him to follow his political leader,” the statement said.
The Labour Party also dismissed Obi’s defection rally in Enugu, describing it as poorly attended and allegedly boycotted by prominent political and traditional leaders in the South-East.
“What played out in Enugu was a charade largely shunned by key political and traditional institutions in the region. Those present were political spent forces who cannot win elections even in their wards,” the party claimed.
The Abure-led leadership further argued that Obi’s 2023 presidential ambition negatively affected the South-East’s standing under President Bola Tinubu’s administration, alleging the region received fewer ministerial appointments and continued to suffer marginalisation in infrastructure allocation.
“He must be reminded that the South-East lost out in President Tinubu’s government because of the trust placed in him in 2023. While some states have as many as five ministers, the entire South-East received only five slots,” the statement said.
The party apologized to Nigerians for fielding Obi as its presidential candidate and said it was preparing a better alternative for future elections.
“We ask Nigerians for forgiveness. What we thought was a good choice in 2023 has turned out to be our greatest political mistake. Nigerians should watch out for the Labour Party as we prepare a better prospect to restore the nation’s glory,” the statement concluded.
Peter Obi had earlier announced his defection to the ADC at an event held at Nike Lake Resort in Enugu State, where he called on Nigerians and opposition figures to unite under a broad national coalition to “rescue Nigeria from poverty, disunity, and democratic decline.”
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