The 2023 presidential candidate of the Labour Party, LP, Mr Peter Obi has told the Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC that he is not leaving the party.
Obi was replying to a statement by NLC spokesperson Benson Upah who said the former Anambra State Governor was free to leave the party if he wanted to.
Upah in an interview with Punch Newspaper on Sunday stated that the NLC cannot stand in the way of the presidential candidate should he decide to defect to another political platform.
The NLC spokesperson replying to rumours that Obi is shopping for another party ahead of 2027, described him as an asset, saying the NLC would not stand in his way if he chose to leave.
Upah said, “The right of choice is available to Mr Obi. If he chooses to leave the party, that is his preference. We can’t sit in judgment over him on that. But if he chooses to remain, of course, Peter Obi is an asset any day. I rest my case on that.”
Reacting to the report and the rumours of him joining the Social Democratic Party, SDP, to pursue his ambition, Obi said he is not leaving the LP that nearly gave him victory last election.
The presidential candidate revealed this while fielding questions from newsmen on Sunday in Gombe State shortly after donating a borehole to the ram market in Tike Pantami, stressing that, “No, there is no such thing. I’m for peace, I like peace. I believe we are one people. Our concentration should be on peace, and I believe we will resolve all situations.”
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While reacting to a possible collaboration with former Kaduna State governor, Nasir El-Rufai, the LP candidate said: “Well, I’m more interested now in Nigeria’s success today than tomorrow.
“We are always concentrating on the election rather than what Nigerians are going through. My commitment is about Nigerians living in a better society, given a better life, and that’s my concern.”
Decrying the increased electricity tariff for Band A consumers by the federal government through the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission, NERC, Obi urged stakeholders to be strategic.
He said: “We should all think it through, see how we can provide remedy. How we can deal with it, especially as it concerns the poor areas?
“Everywhere in the world, those living in Band A areas pay more while those in rural areas are subsidised. That is how it works,’’ Obi said.