Daniel Bwala, Special Adviser on Policy Communication to President Bola Tinubu, has stated that Peter Obi, the Labour Party’s (LP) 2023 presidential candidate, will leave his party to join the All Progressives Congress (APC).
Bwala made this claim during an appearance on TVC’s Breakfast Show on Wednesday, March 12, 2024. He believes Obi will not contest the 2027 presidential election under the LP and will instead move to the ruling party.
His statement comes after Valentine Ozigbo, a close associate of Obi, left the LP and joined the APC. Bwala noted that Ozigbo’s switch to the APC was a sign that Obi could follow the same path.
“Do you know we are emptying the Labour Party, not because we asked them to come but because they are coming? Valentine Ozigbo has joined us. Balami has joined us, even Peter Obi will join us. Peter Obi will not run on the Labour Party; we are all leaving the party.
“For Valentine Ozigbo to come to our party, Ozigbo is actually the custodian of Peter Obi, then, I know for a fact that Peter Obi will join us.”
Ozigbo, a former Anambra governorship candidate, officially resigned from the LP three weeks ago, citing internal crises within the party. After joining the APC, he expressed hope that Obi might also consider making the switch.
“I told him a few things, not about coming to the APC, but I would like to welcome him to the APC someday if he so desires,” he said.
However, amid these claims, there have been speculations that Obi might instead align with the Social Democratic Party (SDP). This speculation grew stronger after former Kaduna State Governor, Malam Nasir El-Rufai, left the APC and joined the SDP. Some political analysts believe Obi could use the SDP to build a coalition against the ruling party in the next election.
