The Labour Party (LP) has issued a surprising apology to Nigerians over its decision to field Peter Obi as its presidential candidate in the 2023 general election, describing the move as a grave error and expressing relief over his defection to the African Democratic Congress (ADC).
Reacting to Obi’s exit, the party said it had long severed ties with him and some of his supporters, insisting that his defection only confirmed a total breakdown in their relationship.
In a statement released on Tuesday by its National Publicity Secretary, Mr Obiora Ifoh, the LP said it had known since September 2024 that Obi and some members of the National Assembly were no longer aligned with the party leadership under Barrister Julius Abure.
“For us in the Labour Party, we wondered why it took them this long to make the move,” the statement said, adding that the party now feels “liberated” by Obi’s departure.
The party claimed it repeatedly asked Obi and his loyalists to leave if they could not work with the leadership, noting that several lawmakers were suspended for anti-party activities and that Obi himself would have faced similar sanctions but for interventions by concerned Nigerians.
Labour Party also blamed its internal crisis on Obi and Abia State Governor, Dr Alex Otti, accusing both men of sponsoring what it described as an insurrection against the party structure. It expressed surprise that Governor Otti, despite being suspended, had not followed Obi out of the party.
Commenting on Obi’s formal reception by the ADC in Enugu, the LP dismissed the event as a flop, claiming it was poorly attended and boycotted by key political and traditional leaders from the South-East, a sign, it said, of dwindling political relevance.
The party further argued that the South-East suffered politically after backing Obi in 2023, citing what it described as weak ministerial representation and continued marginalisation in federal infrastructure projects.
“The South-East lost out completely in President Bola Tinubu’s government because they trusted and believed in him in 2023,” the statement claimed.
In a dramatic admission, the Labour Party openly apologised to Nigerians for its 2023 choice.
“We gave Nigerians a candidate we thought was good for the nation in 2023, but time has since proved that we made the greatest political mistake. We plead for forgiveness from Nigerians,” the party said.
The LP said it is already working to rebuild and reposition ahead of future elections, promising a stronger comeback with new political faces and direction.
