Peter Obi, the Labour Party’s 2023 presidential candidate, has confirmed that he will contest the 2027 presidential election on the party’s platform.
In a viral video circulating on social media on Saturday, Obi addressed his supporters and reaffirmed his loyalty to the Labour Party. When asked which party he planned to contest under in 2027, he replied, “I will still continue to run in the Labour Party. I’m a member of the Labour Party.”
Obi, a former governor of Anambra State, blamed political party crises on the Nigerian government. He responded to a youth concerned about his seeming indifference to internal party conflicts by pointing to deliberate interference from those in power.
“The government is behind the crises in the Labour Party and the PDP—quote me anywhere,” Obi declared. “We faced a similar situation in the past when Yar’Adua was president. I approached him, and he summoned the INEC chairman, Prof. Maurice Iwu, and instructed him to ensure peace in all parties. We had no choice but to resolve the issues.”
He criticized the current system for fostering instability across all political parties and vowed to fix it if given the opportunity.
“These are systemic, deliberate problems,” he said. “If I get the chance, I’ll clean them up. We need strong opposition parties for democracy to work, and that won’t happen without reforms.”
Obi urged Nigerians to take responsibility for protecting their votes. While political parties can appoint agents to defend their interests, he said, only citizens can ultimately ensure electoral integrity.
He also encouraged young people and the electorate not to lose hope, despite resistance from those benefiting from the status quo.
“Positive change faces opposition from those who profit from the old order,” he warned, but added that Nigerians must not let that discourage them.
Obi further advocated for a retirement age for politicians seeking public office. He noted that he would be 65 by the time of the 2027 elections and expressed his desire not to run for office in his 70s.
