Former Labour Party presidential candidate, Peter Obi, has reassured supporters of his intention to stand in the 2027 general elections under the party’s banner.
The 2023 election contender made the declaration during an informal chat with young supporters, captured in a 7-minute video circulating on the party’s WhatsApp groups over the weekend.
Addressing perceived turmoil within opposition ranks, Obi suggested the current administration might be influencing internal conflicts plaguing both the Labour Party and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
When pressed about his 2027 plans, the former Anambra governor stated unequivocally: “I will continue to run with Labour Party. I am a member of Labour Party”, Obi said.
While answering another question from a youth who was apparently disturbed about what appears to be Obi’s aloofness towards the LP’s crisis, the former Anambra State Governor said, “What is happening in the Labour Party and the PDP is caused by the government, quote me anywhere.
“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.”
“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.”
He charged Nigerians to take responsibility for ensuring that their votes count because, even if agents are paid by political parties to look after their interests, the ultimate decision about the people’s votes counting rests with voters.
The LP standard bearer appealed to Nigerian youths and the electorate not to be discouraged because positive change will also be resisted by those who are beneficiaries of the old order.
He equally noted that, left to him, there should be a retirement age for politicians seeking public office.
Obi said that by the time the 2027 election holds, he would be 65 years old, adding that he would not want to be contesting for elections in his 70s.
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