The Julius Abure-led National Working Committee of the Labour Party has downplayed the planned defection of its 2023 presidential candidate, Peter Obi, to the African Democratic Congress (ADC).
Naijaonpoint reports that a party official in Abuja, in an interview with Punch, disclosed that Peter Obi’s supporters and loyalists have begun preparations for a defection.
The source disclosed that Peter Obi met with the National Chairman of the ADC, David Mark, to renew his allegiance to the coalition, after the party asked him to make up his mind on joining the party three weeks ago.
He said the party’s position might have convinced the former governor of Anambra State to finally join the ADC.
According to him, Peter Obi will hold a declaration rally in Enugu, the political capital of the South-East, on December 31.
However, the LP’s National Publicity Secretary, Obiora Ifoh, in an interview with PUNCH, said the party would refrain from making any definitive comment on the matter until Peter Obi officially speaks on the defection.
According to Ifoh, any decision by Peter Obi to leave the party would be driven by personal ambition rather than institutional failure, stressing that the Labour Party would continue to thrive regardless.
He said, “We cannot fully comment on that until we hear from Obi. As we normally say, anybody can defect from anywhere to anywhere. It is normal in Nigerian politics. Labour Party doesn’t see it as a big deal.”
While reiterating that the party harboured no ill feelings, the LP spokesman said it would have been preferable for Peter Obi to remain within the fold and work through any disagreements internally.
He added, “But the wisest thing for him to do is to stay back and work with the party that gave him the spread he got in 2023. He should try to reconcile with the party leadership and move on from there. But if he prefers to jump from one party to another, we wish him all the best.”