Labour Party presidential candidate in the 2023 election Peter Obi is considering renegotiating his presidential ambition for a vice presidential role as he has expressed willingness to serve in such capacity with a more suitable candidate for the presidential role.
The former Anambra governor stated this in an exclusive interview with New Central TV monitored by Credible News claiming that his ambition is to get people to move Nigeria forward in the next general election in 2027.
Answering questions on the possibility of him accepting to be a vice-presidential candidate in 2027, Obi said: “Quite frankly, for me, I’m not desperate to be Nigerian president. I am desperate to see Nigeria work. If I see people who can do the work better, I will consider being Vice President.
“I even have people who say I should not come out in 2027 and I said to them, offer yourself. And we will not put everybody on a scale.”
Obi insisted that he would not leave the Labour Party but would consider a merger with other politicians if their purposes resonate with his political desire.
His words: “Yes, I would be here (at Labour Party), and if anybody is coming for us to negotiate or to come together, he must tell me what his purposes.
“I will not join anybody for state capture or for winning the election. I want anybody to tell me how are we going to ensure that no child is left behind, how are we going to put those millions of out-of-school children back in school.”
READ ALSO: Peter Obi sets conditions for merger with PDP
The Labour Party has been grappling with a prolonged leadership crisis, prompting Kenneth Okonkwo, the former spokesperson for Peter Obi’s presidential campaign, to resign from the party. Okonkwo cited the party’s failure to resolve its internal disputes as the primary reason for his departure.
However, the Labour Party’s leadership crisis continues to escalate with the recent appointment of a new national chairman to replace Julius Abure, the former chairman. This latest move has further divided the party, intensifying internal conflicts and leaving the party fractured as it struggles to resolve its deepening crisis.
Recall that the National Working Committee of the party, led by Julius Abure on Wednesday called on the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission and the National Security Adviser to investigate Obi, activist Aisha Yesufu, Pastor Itua Ighodalo, and leaders of the pan-Yoruba group, Afenifere, for the alleged misappropriation of campaign funds in 2023.
At a press briefing in Abeokuta, the LP’s National Publicity Secretary, Abayomi Arabambi, raised concerns over the diversion of over N12 billion and $15 million in donations meant for the Labour Party’s 2023 presidential campaign.
The party’s leadership accused Aisha Yesufu and Ighodalo of working alongside Obi to siphon campaign donations.
Arabambi described Obi as a “political merchant,” orchestrating the fraudulent mismanagement of funds.
He also criticised Yesufu’s recent public remarks defending herself, dismissing them as attempts to obscure the truth.
The allegations extended to leaders of Afenifere, including Pa Ayo Adebanjo, Akin Osuntokun, and Sola Ebiseni, whom Arabambi accused of retaining over N600 million in private accounts.
The funds, he claimed, were meant for the party’s campaign but were diverted under Obi’s direction.
Credible News.ng
