Labour Party claims Obi’s exit resolves internal crisis, apologizes to Nigerians 

Labour Party has stated that the defection of its 2023 presidential candidate, Peter Obi, to the African Democratic Congress (ADC) as a development that brings closure to its prolonged internal crisis.

In a statement issued on Wednesday by the party’s National Publicity Secretary, Obiora Ifoh, the Labour Party said it had long anticipated Obi’s exit, noting that the party had effectively parted ways with him and some of his supporters as far back as September 2024.

According to the statement, the party leadership viewed Obi’s defection as a relief and a turning point, adding that it had previously urged him and his supporters to leave the party if they were unable to work with its leadership.

The Labour Party claimed that tensions within the party were largely driven by Obi and Abia State Governor Alex Otti, whom it accused of backing actions against the leadership led by Julius Abure. The party expressed surprise that Governor Otti, who it said had been suspended, had not followed Obi out of the party.

Commenting on Obi’s formal defection event held in Enugu, the party alleged that the gathering was poorly attended and lacked the support of key political and traditional figures from the South-East. It said this reflected what it described as a decline in Obi’s political influence in the region.

The party also linked the South-East’s representation in President Bola Tinubu’s administration to the outcome of the 2023 presidential election, arguing that the region’s limited ministerial slots and infrastructure allocations were consequences of political choices made at the time.

In a rare admission, the Labour Party apologised to Nigerians for presenting Obi as its presidential candidate in 2023, stating that hindsight had shown the decision to be a mistake.

“We plead for forgiveness from Nigerians,” the statement said, adding that the party was already working to identify new leadership it believes can help reposition the country.