Fatimah Otunsanya
The 2023 presidential candidate of the Labour Party, Peter Obi, has said he is not intimidated by the growing number of governors defecting to the All Progressives Congress, insisting that he will contest the 2027 presidential election despite the party controlling 30 governors.
Obi said despite what he described as conspiracies from different quarters to discourage him from the contest, he would not be deterred.
The presidential hopeful stated this in Nimo, Njikoka Local Government Area of Anambra State, on Friday during an empowerment programme sponsored by the member representing Dunukofia/Njikoka/Anaocha Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives, George Ozodinobi.
Addressing the people, the former Anambra governor said, “You all know that I am now in the African Democratic Congress. People have been asking why I left the Labour Party, but I told them that we have been in court in the Labour Party over leadership issues and have been securing favourable judgments. Yet, INEC refused to recognise us. But when I left on December 31, 2025, they recognised the same orders they had earlier rejected.
“You see all the things they have been tinkering with in the Constitution; some of them are because they do not want me to contest. But I want to tell them that with their 30 governors, they should make the election free and fair and see who wins.
“I want to announce to you all that no matter what they do, I must contest the election. Let them declare a free and fair contest, bring the ball to the middle of the field and declare it started, and let’s see what happens.”
He decried the situation of the country, stating that the system of the nation has collapsed.
“Nigeria has collapsed totally, and there is a need to redeem it. I have never been desperate to be the President; rather, I am desperate to see a Nigeria that works.
“Nigeria has collapsed and is already lying on the ground. Nigeria is not working because many rich Nigerians are hungry and greedy. They have everything they need, but are still scavenging for more.
“This is an empowerment programme, but you will be surprised that many well-to-do persons will come here to struggle for things they have no need for. Go to their compounds and you will see better vehicles than the ones they are struggling for.
“This country is skewed against the poor, and that is why we are working to become president. We want a country where the son of a nobody can become somebody without knowing anybody,” he lamented.
Obi also thanked the lawmaker for the empowerment items, adding that such initiatives are the reason he insists that only good politicians should be elected into positions.
