Obi resigned his membership of the PDP and joined Labour Party to prosecute the 2023 presidential election.
A frontline presidential aspirant, Peter Obi, has formally joined the Labour Party (LP) to contest the 2023 presidential election.
TheNiche yesterday exclusively reported that Obi was considering the Labour Party or the Social Democratic Party (SDP) to contest the presidential election after resigning from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
TheNiche can now authoritatively reveal that Obi has registered as a member of the Labour Party today at his ward in Anambra State, and would be participating in the presidential primary of the party on Tuesday, May 31.
Giving reason on Friday why he joined the Labour Party, Obi wrote: “I thank all Nigerians, especially our youths who have joined me in the mission of taking back and reuniting Nigeria.
“This project is yours and for the future of your children. I am just a facilitator.
“Since I resigned from the PDP because of issues that are at variance with my persona and principles, I have consulted widely with various parties and personalities to ensure we do not complicate the route to our desired destination.
“For me, the process of achieving our goal is as fundamental as what one will do thereafter.
“Therefore, I have chosen a route that I consider to be in line with our aspirations and my mantra of taking the country from consumption to production; and that is the Labour Party which is synonymous with the people, workers, development, production, securing and uniting Nigerians as one family.
“I invite all Nigerians to join me in taking back our country.
“Be assured that I’ll never let you down.”
Obi resigned his membership of the PDP when it became obvious that the delegates of the party would hand over the presidential ticket to the highest bidder.
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TheNiche reliably gathered that Obi resigned from the PDP because unlike before now where an aspirant who fails to clinch the ticket of a political party at the primaries could easily switch over to another political party, the Electoral Act 2022 makes anyone who contests a primary election ineligible to switch over to another political party for the same purpose.
A source who is privy to the behind-the-scenes conversations told TheNiche: “The discussions started when it became apparent that the PDP was not prepared to zone the presidential ticket to the South.”
As if that is not bad enough, it is also speculated that the PDP governors are insisting that one of their own must be on the presidential ticket.
“So, in the event that Atiku, for instance, picks the ticket, the idea is that he will pick either Rivers State governor, Nyesom Wike, or Emmanuel Udom of Akwa Ibom, as the running mate. That will leave the Southeast high and dry. PDP simply does not mean well for the region.
“They seem to have tacitly agreed that it will go to the North for whatever reason.
“That is very sad but that is where we have found ourselves. Meanwhile, Peter Obi has the momentum. But if he does not get the party ticket, that will be the end of the story.
“So, let him get a party ticket and let Nigerians decide. It will be a revolution. You watch and see. The Electoral Act 2022 said any such switch must be made at least four days before the primaries. That is why he resigned from his Agulu Ward 2 on Friday, May 20. Let Nigerians make the choice because this election will be consequential.”