In the wake of a recent wave of high-profile political defections, including that of Enugu State Governor Peter Mbah, Labour Party (LP) leader and 2023 presidential candidate Peter Obi has strongly asserted that no political party can electorally “capture” a state simply because its governor switches allegiance. Speaking to journalists in Abuja, Obi emphasized that Nigeria operates a democracy, not a military regime, where states can be forcibly seized.
The former Anambra State Governor stressed that the ultimate decision-makers in an election remain the citizens, not political elites. “The people will decide where to go, not governors or senators; no party will capture or win any state just because it has a governor,” Obi stated. Addressing Governor Mbah’s move from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC)—a defection the APC allegedly framed as part of a plan to secure the South-East for President Bola Tinubu’s re-election—Obi maintained his distance. While acknowledging Mbah as a “good friend” who likely acted on his own political calculations, Obi dismissed the broader “capture” narrative as outdated.
“We are not in a military time when you capture people,” Obi asserted, underscoring that political leaders must earn support through performance. “The government needs to do more if it wants the people to support it.” He categorically stated that Mbah, as one individual, cannot speak or decide on behalf of the entire South-East populace.
Beyond the issue of party defections, Obi also addressed the continued detention of separatist leader Nnamdi Kanu, welcoming the planned protest agitation for Kanu’s release by activist Omoyele Sowore’s group. Obi reiterated his long-held, consistent position that Kanu’s initial arrest was unnecessary and that dialogue is the best path forward for all agitations across the nation. “I’ve always said that for me, I will consult, negotiate and discuss with anybody who is agitating,” he noted, expressing gratitude to those now championing the cause he has consistently raised since before 2020. He urged that now that the matter is before the courts, “the rules should be followed.”
The Labour Party leader also commented on the nomination of the new INEC chairman, Amupitan, ahead of the 2027 elections. Obi expressed a simple expectation: the establishment of a “new Nigeria where elections will be free, fair and credible,” allowing competent and committed leaders to be elected. He wished the nominee well, urging him to prioritize his reputation and the national good over political expediency during his tenure.
Obi’s comments were delivered on the sidelines of a visit to LEA Nursery/Primary School in Kapwa, a suburb of Abuja, where he accompanied Moses Paul, the African Democratic Congress (ADC) Chairmanship candidate for the upcoming FCT Council elections. Decrying the school’s dilapidated state, including irreparable furniture and a lack of toilet facilities for over 200 pupils, Obi stressed that investment in basic education is the “most important thing we can do as a nation,” promising to facilitate a facelift for the neglected institution.
