The 2023 Labour Party presidential candidate, Peter Obi, has reacted to the potential merger between the Labour Party, LP and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
In an interview with NoireTV-GlobalBlackTV released on YouTube on Saturday, Obi also spoke on receiving support as a Southeast candidate in the 2027 presidential election from Atiku Abubakar, the PDP’s 2023 flagbearer.
Expressing gratitude for Abubakar’s support, Obi stated, “I commend him and I’m grateful for his statements, especially where he said he will support me if it (the presidential ticket) goes to the South East.”
However, Obi emphasised that his foremost concern lies not in personal ambition or political maneuvering but in the welfare of Nigeria and its citizens. He emphasized, “I’m not desperate to be president, I’m desperate to see Nigeria work, especially for the poor people because we have a lot of potential.”
Regarding the potential merger between the PDP and LP, Obi expressed his readiness, provided that it serves the purpose of better governance and unlocking Nigeria’s potential. “If the merger is to be able to govern Nigeria properly, unlock all those things that will make Nigeria a better place, I’m for it,” he affirmed.
However, Obi clarified that he is not interested in mergers or alliances solely for power acquisition or electoral victories. He asserted, “If it’s just a merger for election or state capture, I’m not for it or part of it, I don’t want to be part of anything like that.”
Highlighting the importance of unity and collaboration for the betterment of Nigeria, Obi emphasized, “It might be at the party level, it might be at the individual level, might be at any level, but we must come together to be able to build a better Nigeria.”