Peter Obi’s Remarks Linked to Labour Party Lawmakers’ Defections to APC
Meche Oswald, a prominent chieftain of the Labour Party (LP) and leader of the Obidient Youth Ambassadors, has placed the blame for recent defections from the party squarely on the shoulders of Peter Obi, the LP’s 2023 presidential candidate. Oswald believes that Obi’s controversial statement about the Obidient Movement’s independence from political parties played a key role in prompting several lawmakers to switch allegiance to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
Last year, six LP lawmakers defected to the APC, and Oswald argues that Obi’s comments about the Obidient Movement, which he stated was not tied to any particular political party, created confusion among party members. Obi had shared his thoughts on Twitter, clarifying that members of the Obidient Movement were free to affiliate with any political party. While Obi’s intention may not have been to encourage defections, Oswald believes that his words inadvertently gave MPs the green light to leave LP for the APC.
In a statement, Oswald revealed that one of the defectors, a member of the House of Representatives, admitted that Obi’s remarks influenced his decision to leave the Labour Party. Oswald criticized Obi for not consulting with others before making the statement, suggesting that the remark caused unnecessary uncertainty within the party.
“I wish he had refrained from making that statement or at least sought counsel before sharing his thoughts,” Oswald said, expressing his concerns that Obi’s words unintentionally made it easier for lawmakers to justify their defection. He also alleged that some of these individuals, who later joined the APC, interpreted Obi’s statement as a subtle endorsement for them to switch parties.
Oswald further suggested that Obi may have made the statement under pressure from various quarters, including the fear of political figures like Marcel Ngogbehei, the Director-General of the LP Directorate of Mobilisation and Integration. He pointed to the fact that some individuals who had pushed Obi into making the statement are now moving to other political parties, further fragmenting the Obidient Movement.
Oswald also commented on the fragmented state of the Obidient Movement, lamenting that Obi’s remarks had undermined its unity. He claimed that Obi inadvertently created a perception that Obidients could freely affiliate with any political group, weakening the movement’s cohesion.
He concluded by emphasizing that if the Obidient Directorate had been allowed to function as originally intended, the issue of defections would likely not have arisen in the first place.