The presidential candidate of the Labour Party in the 2023 general election, Peter Obi, has made it clear that he intends to run for president again in 2027 under the same political party.
Obi shared this information during a short video message which is now being circulated widely by supporters on the Labour Party’s WhatsApp group.
The video, which lasted a little over seven minutes, shows the former Anambra State governor speaking to a group of young Nigerians who are backing his political journey.
In the video, Obi directly responded to a question about his political future and said, “I will still continue to run in the Labour Party. I’m a member of the Labour Party.” He noted that despite the ongoing crisis within the party, he remains committed to the cause and will not switch platforms.
Obi also addressed what he described as the government’s role in causing unrest within opposition parties like the Labour Party and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
According to him, the issues currently troubling the parties are not natural but deliberately caused. “What is happening in the Labour Party and the PDP is caused by the government. Quote me anywhere,” he said.
Recalling an experience from the past, Obi mentioned that when a similar issue arose years ago, he approached then-President Umaru Yar’Adua, who quickly stepped in to resolve the matter with the electoral commission.
Obi said that type of leadership is lacking today, and that the government is now encouraging problems within opposition parties. He added that these challenges are part of the system’s efforts to weaken the opposition and that this is something he is determined to change if given another opportunity to serve.
He notes that functioning political parties and a strong opposition are necessary for democracy to work properly. According to Obi, no government can succeed without checks and balances from the opposition.
Speaking further, he urged Nigerian youths to stay involved and never give up on the electoral process. He reminded them that the responsibility for protecting their votes lies with them, not just with party agents. He said efforts to bring about positive change will face resistance, especially from people who benefit from the current state of things.
Obi also shared his personal thoughts about leadership and age. He noted that he believes there should be a retirement age for politicians who want to occupy public office. He mentioned that he would be 65 years old by the time of the next general election and doesn’t see himself running for office in his 70s.
