Former Labour Party presidential candidate Peter Obi has downplayed concerns over Nigeria drifting toward a one-party dominance, asserting that defections by governors cannot unilaterally sway entire regions or states in a democracy.
Obi made the remarks Wednesday in Abuja, responding to the recent switches of Enugu State Governor Peter Mbah and Bayelsa State Governor Douye Diri to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC). He described such moves as relics of military-era politics, emphasizing voter agency over elite maneuvers.
“The people will decide where to go, not governors or senators. No party will capture or win any state just because it has a governor,” Obi stated. “The idea that a state can be captured by a political party through the defection of its leader belongs to Nigeria’s military past.”
Praising Mbah as a “good friend,” Obi acknowledged personal political calculations behind the decision but insisted: “Peter Mbah is a good friend of mine, and I believe that as governor, he must have taken his decision based on his own political views and calculations.”
Dismissing plots to “capture” the South-East, the ex-Anambra governor stressed democratic leadership through persuasion and performance. “As for the alleged plot to capture the South-East, we are not in a military time when you capture people. You are a leader. You tend to do the right things for them to follow you. So I don’t think anybody is capturing anywhere,” he added.
Obi urged officials to prioritize governance and citizen-focused policies, warning that realignments alone won’t secure loyalty without tangible results. His comments come amid a wave of APC defections, fueling debates on opposition viability ahead of 2027 elections. Analysts see Obi’s stance as a call for issue-based politics over personality-driven shifts.
