ABUJA —The presidential candidate of Labour Party in the 2023 election, Peter Obi, African Democratic Congress, ADC, and the senator representing Bayelsa West, Seriake Dickson, yesterday railed the spate of defection of governors and lawmakers from other parties, particularly Peoples Demcratic Party, PDP, to ruling All Progressives Congress, APC.
Recall that governor of Enugu State, Peter Mbah, had on Tuesday defected to the APC with members of the state executive council, while his colleague in Bayelsa State, Douye Diri, yesterday resigned from the PDP with the 23 lawmakers in the state, preparatory to their defection to APC.
Several senators and members of the House of Representatives have also, before now, defected to APC from the PDP, Labour Party, and New Nigeria Peoples Party, NNPP.
Reacting to the development yesterday, Peter Obi said the ongoing defections by state governors in the South East would not guarantee the political capture of the zone.
In a statement released by his media team, Obi explained that Nigeria was currently a democracy, not under military rule, where states could be “captured.”
According to him, the people will ultimately decide where to go, not governors or senators, and no party will capture or win any state just because it has a governor.
Speaking specifically on the defection of Enugu State governor, Peter Mbah, and APC’s alleged move to capture the South-East for President Bola Tinubu’s re-election, Obi said: “Peter Mbah is a good friend of mine. And I believe that as governor, he must have taken his decision based on his own political views and calculations.
“As for the alleged plot to capture the South-East, we are not in a military time when you capture people. You are a leader. You tend to do the right things for them to follow you. So I don’t think anybody is capturing anywhere. The government needs to do more if it wants the people to support it.”
Speaking on the planned protest for the release of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu by political activist, Omoyele Sowore, the former Anambra State governor said: “I’ve always been consistent on Nnamdi Kanu’s situation.
“There was no need for his arrest in the first place. And I’ve always said that for me, I will consult, negotiate and discuss with anybody who is agitating. I said it clearly and I remain there.
“I thank those who are actually trying to do or say what we’ve been saying for a long time. Go and check what I’ve said before 2020, 2022 and even 2024. And now that it has gone to court, the rules should be followed. Not just for Nnamdi Kanu, but for all agitators across the nation. Let’s dialogue with them”
“There’s nothing wrong with anybody agitating or saying let’s dialogue with them. And whatever we do with them, let’s follow the rules. So I thank the organisers and those who are involved.”
On his expectations from the new INEC chair, ahead of the 2027 election, Obi declared: “Very simple. He’s a Nigerian. We want a new Nigeria where elections will be free, fair and credible and our people who have the competence, capacity, compassion, character and commitment to lead the nation are elected.
“It’s for the good of everybody. None of us is going to be here forever, and none of us is going to be in his position forever. So whatever position we find ourselves in, it’s to do the right thing. So I wish him well.
“When he (Amupitan) is confirmed, I will congratulate him and tell him to know that one day, he’s going to leave that post. Let him ensure that he keeps his reputation.”
Obi was said to have spoken to reporters on the sidelines of a campaign alongside the African Democratic Congress, ADC, chairmanship candidate for Abuja Municipal Area Council, AMAC, in the February 2026 FCT Council elections, Dr Moses Paul, on a visit to LEA Nursery/Primary School, Kapwa, a suburb of Abuja, saying education was the bedrock of any society.
He also decried the dilapidated state of the school, noting that the school furniture was in “irreparable conditions.”
Obi wondered why a school with over 200 pupils had no toilet facilities, and promised to give the school a facelift.
“The most important thing we can do as a nation is to invest in basic education. Investment in children is the most important.
“I am here today to support my brother, Dr Moses Paul, the ADC candidate contesting for the AMAC council. You know he is campaigning and going round the communities in his constituency,’’ he said.
