Peter Obi, the Labour Party’s presidential candidate in the 2023 elections, has made it clear that only true party loyalists will be considered for elective positions going forward. Speaking at the party’s National Executive Council meeting held in Abuja on Wednesday, Obi emphasized that the era of “passers-by” using the party as a stepping stone is over.
The former Anambra State Governor’s remarks were a thinly veiled reference to some lawmakers who were elected under the Labour Party banner but later defected to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
Obi stated that going forward, only dedicated members of the Labour Party will be granted the party’s ticket for any election. “We must ensure that our candidates are not just using us as a vehicle to power,” he said.
He also praised those lawmakers who remained loyal to the party despite political pressure, particularly at the national assembly, describing them as examples of the kind of leadership the party wants to promote.
“We’re building a party based on fairness, justice, and integrity—one that Nigerians can trust,” Obi said. “In the next elections, we want to present candidates who are not only competent but committed to the Labour Party’s ideology—from state assemblies all the way up to the presidency.”
Admitting that mistakes were made in the past, Obi said the party is taking steps to correct them. “We’re determined to ensure that everyone who represents us moving forward is a genuine party member—not someone just passing through.”
He concluded by stressing that it’s better to stand for what is right, even if it means losing, than to win by compromising the party’s principles. “We want to offer Nigerians a credible alternative, and we’re prepared to do the hard work required to make that happen.”
By Agba Kenneth