A faction within the Labour Party (LP) has voiced deep regret over selecting Peter Obi as its 2023 presidential flagbearer, calling the decision a major misstep that prioritized popularity over national interest.
During a press briefing in Abeokuta, Ogun State, on Friday, Abayomi Arabambi, the factional National Publicity Secretary of the party, criticized the leadership’s choice to sideline Faduri Oluwadare Joseph, a professional nurse and political figure he described as visionary and truly pan-Nigerian.
“We sacrificed competence and national unity for media hype. Instead of giving Nigerians a focused leader with a sound strategy for progress, we delivered a populist more interested in public applause,” Arabambi said.
He accused the party of making a populist gamble rather than standing behind a disciplined candidate with a well-defined plan for national renewal. Arabambi asserted that Faduri Oluwadare had a stronger grasp of the nation’s challenges and offered a more unifying leadership approach.
Reflecting on the outcome of the 2023 election, Arabambi said the party has learned its lesson and is now determined not to repeat the same errors in the lead-up to 2027.
He also took aim at Obi’s campaign, accusing it of fostering ethnic division and failing to address major national issues, including the actions of IPOB leader Nnamdi Kanu.
“Obi’s silence on critical matters and selective outrage reveal a pattern of political convenience,” he stated. “His campaign, knowingly or not, became a tool for ethnic polarization.”
Looking ahead, Arabambi assured that his faction of the Labour Party would prioritize merit, inclusivity, and clear leadership vision in its next presidential outing, promising a shift away from sentiment-driven politics.