The 2023 presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP), Mr. Peter Obi, has alleged that the ongoing crisis within the party is not natural but is being “instigated and sustained” by the current administration led by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
Obi made this explosive claim on Monday during an interview on ARISE News, where he spoke at length about the challenges facing the party and Nigeria’s political environment.
“This is what we get always in Nigeria,” Obi said. “We now live in a country of propaganda and lies, and they manufacture it. The problem we have in the Labour Party is a problem instigated and sustained by the government of today.”
Obi’s statement is the latest in a series of comments aimed at explaining the deepening divisions and infighting within the Labour Party, which has been in the public eye since the 2023 elections elevated it to the status of a third political force in Nigeria.
The former Anambra State governor also responded to growing criticism from within the party, especially from his former ally, Nollywood actor and LP chieftain Kenneth Okonkwo, who accused Obi of weak leadership. In reply, Obi said that people often mistake humility and patience for weakness.
“When you have a party chairman who calls a state government a dwarf, and says there’s dwarf thinking… Okay, I’m weak, but is every other person there weak?” Obi asked rhetorically. “Let’s be sincere with ourselves.”
He defended his leadership record, pointing out that he has managed companies, served as a state governor, and held leadership positions in both the private and public sectors—all without being accused of incompetence.
“I’ve built and managed businesses, both in Nigeria and outside. I’ve chaired quoted companies. I’ve earned my place. There’s no place I’ve shown weakness,” he declared.
Obi, who came third in the 2023 presidential election but remains a major political voice in Nigeria, said defections and internal disagreement in the party are not unusual, even invoking a biblical reference.
“If out of 12 people that followed Jesus, one betrayed him, how about me with millions of supporters? You want to count the few who have left or disagreed with me?” he said.
Obi stressed that his commitment to Nigeria and its people remains unshaken. He explained that while critics sit at home and judge from afar, he has been actively engaging with citizens at the grassroots level.
“This year alone, I’ve driven from Abuja to Kafanchan, to Kaduna, to Kano, to Katsina, to Jigawa, to Jos, to Benue, to Kogi. People just stay in their houses and talk about how macho they are,” he said.
“It’s easy to be an armchair critic. For God’s sake, I’m on the road,” Obi added, underscoring his on-the-ground efforts to understand the everyday struggles of Nigerians.
He ended the interview by saying that despite the attacks, his political journey is driven by values, not personal ambition or ego.
“If I have humility, patience, and tolerance, it’s not weakness. It’s a virtue. It is not easy to stay where I am today,” he said.
Obi’s comments are expected to stir more reactions from both the Labour Party leadership and the Presidency. The ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) is yet to officially respond to the accusations. However, the internal crisis within the Labour Party has deepened in recent months, with multiple factions and legal tussles threatening to derail its momentum ahead of the 2027 elections.
