Labour Party’s 2023 presidential candidate, Peter Obi, has dismissed growing fears that Nigeria is sliding into a one-party state.
Obi urged public officials to prioritise good governance, warning that defections and political alliances could not guarantee people’s loyalty
This the former governor declared that no political party can “capture” any region merely because a governor defects to it.
Speaking in Abuja while reacting to the recent defections of Enugu state governor Peter Mbah and Bayelsa Governor Douye Diri to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), Obi stressed that political power rests with the people, not political elites, Punch reported.
“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.
He described Mbah as a “good friend,” noting that the Enugu governor’s decision was based on his personal political judgment and calculations.
“As for the alleged plot to capture the South-East, we are not in a military time when you capture people. “You are a leader. You tend to do the right things for them to follow you. So I don’t think anybody is capturing anywhere,” he said.
He stressed that democracy thrives on persuasion and accountability, not force or manipulation.
The former governor urged public office holders to focus on policies that directly improve citizens’ lives, arguing that political realignments without performance cannot win lasting support, Vanguard reported.
Obi’s remarks come amid growing political unease following a wave of defections by opposition governors and lawmakers to the APC, a trend many observers warn could tilt Nigeria toward one-party dominance ahead of the 2027 general elections.
