Factional Publicity Secretary of the Labour Party (LP), Abayomi Arabambi, has declared that the party made a grave error by selecting Peter Obi as its 2023 presidential candidate, instead of Faduri Oluwadare Joseph—a US-licensed nurse and reputed entrepreneur.
Speaking at a press briefing in Abeokuta, Ogun State, on Friday, Arabambi slammed the decision as one driven by “political expediency over principled leadership”, describing it as a “fundamental betrayal of Nigeria’s yearning for genuine transformation.”
“This was more than a simple error of judgment but was a fundamental betrayal of Nigeria’s yearning for genuine transformation,” he said.
Arabambi contrasted Obi’s populist appeal with what he described as Faduri’s structured and disciplined leadership style, which he believes is better suited to tackle Nigeria’s complex governance challenges.
“Unlike Obi, whose political brand thrives on emotional rhetoric and oversimplified solutions, Faduri’s approach is deeply rooted in accountability, transparency, and the kind of disciplined governance that Nigeria desperately needs…”
The LP spokesman also accused Obi of deepening ethnic divides and enabling extremism during the campaign.
“Perhaps the most damning indictment of Obi’s candidacy is his ethnic polarisation that shadowed his campaign.
“While Faduri stood as a truly national figure, with support cutting across regions, Obi’s movement, intentionally or not, became a vehicle for tribal sentiment.
“His refusal to firmly denounce Kanu’s secessionist rhetoric, his selective outrage over insecurity, and his tendency to frame national issues through a partisan lens exposed a troubling parochialism beneath his ‘unifier’ facade.”
On the economic front, Arabambi criticised Obi’s comments during a recent television interview, accusing him of misrepresenting the country’s debt figures.
“Nigeria does not need a president who excuses extremism for political convenience. It needs a leader who will uphold the rule of law while addressing legitimate grievances, something Faduri embodied, and Obi failed to possess.”
“The truth is that Nigeria’s external debt has decreased under Tinubu, from $108.2 billion to $94.2 billion, a fact Obi conveniently ignored.”
Arabambi said that Faduri’s vision for Nigeria remains intact: a battle against corruption, inefficiency, and systemic decay.
“The Labour Party’s decision to sideline Faduri for Obi was a blunder with lasting consequences. Instead of a leader with depth, discipline, and a demonstrable blueprint for national renewal, Nigeria got a populist whose greatest skill is telling people what they want to hear.
“The 2027 election must not repeat this error. Nigeria needs leaders like Faduri Oluwadare Joseph—men and women who understand that governance is not about slogans, but about substance, sacrifice, and systemic change.”
On Obi’s recent alliance with the African Democratic Congress (ADC) coalition, Arabambi didn’t hold back.
He confirmed that Obi’s participation in the group’s activities—led by figures like David Mark, Rauf Aregbesola, and Nasir El-Rufai—has triggered moves for his expulsion from the Labour Party.
“Yes, Obi was there when David Mark and Rauf Aregbesola were inaugurated as the leaders of the ADC coalition.
“He was properly introduced as the leader of the Labour Party that came to support the coalition. We are not in support of that, so as far as we are concerned, we wish him well, he’s no longer part of the Labour Party.
“Plans are ongoing to expel him already. In our next NEC meeting, Peter Obi will be expelled alongside his other co-travellers.”
Arabambi also urged members of the ADC coalition to return to the APC and align with President Bola Tinubu to correct the “mess” left behind by the Buhari administration.
