Former Labour Party presidential candidate, Peter Obi, has explained the reasons behind his movement across political parties, saying his decisions were guided by principles rather than personal interests.
Obi spoke on Monday during an appearance on Arise TV, where he addressed concerns about his history of defections from the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), the Labour Party, and now the African Democratic Congress (ADC).
He said his first move, from APGA to the PDP, followed a disagreement with his successor as governor of Anambra State, noting that he chose to step aside to protect governance in the state.
“I moved from APGA to the PDP because of issues with my successor. Rather than allow it to become destructive to governance, I moved out,” he said.
Obi, however, said his experience in the PDP was not different, describing the party as one where due process was often ignored.
“People were not playing by the rules. It was transactional. I cannot be part of a transactional system,” Obi said.
He also cited internal crises and legal disputes within the Labour Party as factors that weakened the platform and affected its viability.
The former Anambra governor is currently working with opposition figures aligned with the ADC as part of efforts to build a united front ahead of future elections.
He acknowledged concerns over the backgrounds of some of his new political allies but maintained that their current commitment to change should be the focus.
“What is important is not what people were yesterday, but what they are today,” he said.
Obi added that the broader objective was to rebuild a credible opposition capable of delivering accountable leadership to Nigerians, stressing that he would remain committed to that cause.
“We are ready to work with people who are committed to change. If the process is compromised again, we will continue the fight,” he said.
He further described the country’s political system as one that requires urgent reform.
“We must dismantle this criminality that exists today,” he said.
Obi formally registered as a member of the ADC on March 7, completing the process in his hometown, Agulu, in Anaocha Local Government Area of Anambra State, during the party’s membership registration and mobilisation exercise across the state’s 21 local government areas.
At the event, he said the South-East was working collectively ahead of the 2027 elections and called on supporters to mobilise voters at the grassroots
.“In this particular journey of 2027, we in the South-East are working as a family and we are discussing with other regions. We are working to unite all opposition. The common goal is to create a new Nigeria,” he said.
Credit: Nigerian Tribune