Presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP) in the 2023 elections, Peter Obi, has raised the alarm over what he described as the “alarming level of hardship” in Nigeria, warning that the country is on a dangerous trajectory if urgent action is not taken.
Speaking passionately at the National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting and Expanded Stakeholders’ Summit of the Labour Party held Wednesday at the Transcorp Hilton Hotel in Abuja, Obi delivered a sobering assessment of the state of the nation and reaffirmed his commitment to the Labour Party amid growing political speculation.
The NEC meeting was presided over by Nenadi Usman, former Minister of Finance and current Chairperson of the party’s Caretaker Committee.
Obi, addressing party leaders, stakeholders, and supporters, lamented the economic toll on everyday Nigerians, stressing that the numbers speak for themselves.
“The numbers are clear; the indices are clear; people are getting poorer every day,” Obi declared. “Those who once invited me to eat and drink now stop me to ask for help. That is the level of suffering in this country.”
The former Anambra governor emphasized the importance of speaking truth to power, saying silence is no longer an option in the face of national deterioration.
“Do not fear anybody. Those who were afraid yesterday didn’t do any better. We must speak out when things are going wrong. Nigeria is collapsing,” he said.
In a significant shift, Obi outlined a clear roadmap for repositioning the Labour Party ahead of the 2027 general elections, stressing that the party must learn from its past and field only credible, committed candidates.
“We want to correct the mistakes we made in the past. Going forward, anyone seeking to contest under our party must be a committed member, not just someone passing through,” he stated.
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He called for a bottom-up approach in building party structures, emphasizing inclusivity and merit.
“Let’s do the right thing. Let’s go from ward to local government to state, to zone, and nationally—everybody is free to contest. We will ensure fairness and build a party people can look up to with pride,” Obi said.
He added that only candidates who share in the Labour Party’s ideology and values would be considered.
“We must have senators who agree with our ideals. Even if we fail, let us fail doing the right thing. It’s better to be on the side of right and lose than to be on the side of wrong and win.”
Amid rumours suggesting that he might defect to another political platform, Obi used the occasion to clear the air.
“I have never told anyone, nor given any indication that I am leaving the Labour Party,” he affirmed.
The clarification comes as internal party tensions and leadership disputes have raised questions about the LP’s unity and strategic direction.
As the Labour Party prepares for future elections, Obi’s remarks signal a renewed commitment to strengthening the party’s ideological foundation and electoral credibility.
The message was clear: Nigeria needs a new kind of politics, and the Labour Party, under Obi’s influence, intends to lead that charge.
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