The Labour Party’s 2023 presidential candidate, Peter Obi, has reassured supporters of his intention to contest the 2027 general elections under the party’s banner.
The former Anambra State governor made this declaration during an engagement with young supporters, as captured in a 7-minute, 16-second video circulating on the party’s WhatsApp platforms on Saturday.
Addressing concerns about political party crises, Obi asserted that the government bears responsibility for the internal conflicts plaguing both the Labour Party and Peoples Democratic Party.
When directly asked about his 2027 election platform, he stated: “I will still continue to run in the Labour Party. I’m a member of the Labour Party.”
The opposition leader elaborated on his perspective regarding political instability, recalling: “What is happening in the Labour Party and the PDP is caused by the government. Quote me anywhere. We had a problem in our party before, in the past. Yar’Adua was the president. I went to him then; he called the INEC Chairman (Prof. Maurice Iwu) and told him I don’t want any problem in any party. We were forced to fix it.”
Obi contrasted past interventions with current challenges, observing: “But today, in all the parties, there are problems. These are deliberate problems caused by the system. These are some of the things I want to clean up if I have the opportunity. Parties will function very well because you can’t have a system working without a strong opposition.”
The politician emphasized citizen responsibility in electoral integrity, urging Nigerians to safeguard their votes regardless of political party agents’ roles. He encouraged youths and voters to remain steadfast despite resistance from beneficiaries of the status quo.
Reflecting on political longevity, Obi revealed his personal stance: “By the time the 2027 election holds, I would be 65 years old,” adding that he wouldn’t want to still be contesting elections in his 70s. This remark underscored his support for implementing retirement age limits for political office seekers.
The video message comes amid ongoing realignments within Nigeria’s opposition political landscape ahead of the next general elections.
