Peter Obi, the Labour Party’s flagbearer in the 2023 presidential election, has declared his intention to run again in 2027 under the same party.
In a video that recently went viral on social media, Obi addressed his supporters and confirmed his continued allegiance to the Labour Party. When asked about his platform for the next election cycle, he responded: “I will still continue to run in the Labour Party. I’m a member of the Labour Party.”
Obi, a former governor of Anambra State, also pointed fingers at the Nigerian government for fueling the current crisis rocking various political parties, including the Labour Party and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
He responded to a concerned youth who questioned his apparent detachment from the internal issues facing his party.
“What is happening in the Labour Party and the PDP is caused by the government, quote me anywhere,” Obi said.
Reflecting on a past experience, he cited an example from the era of President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua “We had a problem in our party before, in the past. Yar’Adua was the President. I went to him then; he called the INEC chairman (Prof. Maurice Iwu) and told him I don’t want any problem in any party. We were forced to fix it.”
He further emphasized that the dysfunction within parties today is no coincidence.
“But today, in all the parties, there are problems; these are deliberate problems caused by the system. These are some of the things I want to clean up if I have the opportunity. Parties will function very well because you can’t have a system working without a strong opposition.”
Encouraging Nigerians to be more engaged in the electoral process, Obi urged voters to protect the integrity of their votes.
He explained that even with party agents in place, the power ultimately lies with the electorate.
“Because even if agents are paid by political parties to look after their interests, the ultimate decision about whether the people’s votes count rests with voters,” he stated.
Addressing the youth and broader electorate, Obi acknowledged the resistance faced by those pushing for reform: “Positive change will also be resisted by those who are beneficiaries of the old order.”
He also touched on the issue of age in leadership, suggesting a cap on the age of politicians vying for office. With the 2027 elections in view, Obi noted “By the time the 2027 election holds, I would be 65 years old,” adding, “I would not want to be contesting for elections in my 70s.”
