Dayo Ekong, the Lagos State chairman of the Labour Party (LP), has urged former presidential candidate Peter Obi to “pause and ponder” his political choices, warning that his recent actions are eroding both his personal appeal and the party’s relevance.
In a statement posted on X on Tuesday titled “Reflections on the Labour Party’s Challenges: A Call for Peter Obi to Pause and Ponder,” Ekong said Obi’s influence, once a powerful force in Nigerian politics, is now in decline.
“Peter Obi’s influence in the Nigerian polity appears to be waning, as Nigerians grow increasingly tired and wary of what some perceive as inconsistent antics and political maneuvering,” she said. “His interventions, once seen as principled, now risk being viewed as disruptive and self-serving, alienating allies and diminishing his appeal.”
Ekong acknowledged the momentum Obi built in the 2023 elections, saying he benefitted from “an extraordinary wave of support, not just from the Labour Party’s structures but from a broad coalition of Nigerians yearning for change.” She described that success as “a combination of factors: the party’s platform, grassroots mobilization, and a genuine public desire for integrity in leadership.”
However, she noted that subsequent contests have exposed cracks in his political strength. Citing the 2024 Edo governorship election, she recalled Obi’s support for Olumide Akpata, which ended in defeat despite his rallies and endorsements. “The result? Akpata lost woefully to the APC’s Monday Okpebholo, securing only a fraction of the votes despite Obi’s rallies and endorsements in Benin and beyond,” she said.
Ekong also pointed to the 2023 Imo governorship election, where Obi campaigned for Labour’s Athan Achonu, who still lost by a wide margin to incumbent Governor Hope Uzodimma. “These back-to-back failures in Imo and Edo raise questions about the effectiveness of Obi’s political strategy and whether his touch still carries the transformative power it did in 2023,” she said.
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The LP chair was particularly critical of Obi’s role in the recent Anambra State by-elections, where he endorsed Justina Azuka of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) over his own party’s candidate. “Just before the polls, Obi abandoned the Labour Party candidate and endorsed Justina Azuka of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), even donning an ADC-branded cap during campaigns,” Ekong said. “The result was dismal: ADC garnered only 1,909 votes, while the Labour Party fared even worse.”
She said the episode highlighted “Labour today, ADC tomorrow shenanigans that have confused supporters and diluted party loyalty,” warning that voters were beginning to take note of such contradictions.
Ekong urged Obi to reflect on his recent choices and their impact on the movement he helped build. “Does he still enjoy that grace upon his head—the divine favor and public trust that fueled his 2023 surge?” she asked. “Is his ongoing acrimony against the Labour Party’s leadership helping or hindering the movement he claims to champion?”
She warned that the electorate was watching closely. “We all openly admonished Wike for his PDP/APC antics but turn a blind eye to Peter Obi’s LP/ADC antics. The electorate is watching all these and slowly making up their minds against 2027,” she said.
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Ekong reaffirmed her commitment to the party’s vision. “The Labour Party remains committed to the ideals of equity, justice, and progress for all Nigerians. But for us to thrive, we need leaders who prioritise the collective over individual whims,” she said.
