Obi not dropping presidential ambition – LP

Obi

The Labour Party has dismissed speculations that its 2027 presidential candidate, Peter Obi, could step down for any political coalition or rival aspirant, saying such a move would amount to betraying the hope of millions of Nigerians seeking change.

Reacting to ongoing debates over possible opposition alignments ahead of the next general election, the party’s Interim National Publicity Secretary, Tony Akeni, said withdrawing Obi from the race “is to take away 90 per cent of the hope of Nigerians for redemption and a new beginning.”

Akeni disclosed this in an exclusive interview with Sunday PUNCH.

“Forcing Peter Obi to withdraw from the race is to take away 90 per cent of the hope of Nigerians for redemption and a new beginning.

“So, I see a situation where we will all come together, stakeholders, and take the right decision at the right time. And that right time is still a little bit far away. It’s going to be close to the primaries,” Akeni stated.

He maintained that neither Obi nor the Obidient Movement would surrender their presidential bid, stressing that “our motto is forward never, backward never.”

“There is no substitute for the ideology of the Labour Party. And so, we are going head on for the presidency if the right decision is not taken by the coalition,” Akeni said, while appealing to former Vice President Atiku Abubakar to “prove his love for the country by doing the right thing and giving Peter Obi a chance in 2027.” Punch