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Obi Slams Defection Politics, Says No Party Can Capture South-East

Former presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP), Peter Obi, has dismissed growing fears that Nigeria is sliding into a one-party system following a series of defections by opposition governors to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).

Obi, who spoke in Abuja on Tuesday, said the idea that a state or region could be politically captured simply because a governor defects to another party is outdated and inconsistent with the principles of modern democracy.

The former Anambra State governor made the remarks while reacting to the recent defections of Enugu State Governor Peter Mbah and Bayelsa State Governor Douye Diri from the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) to the APC, a development that has triggered widespread debate about Nigeria’s political future.

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 said.

He noted that leadership in a democracy should be anchored on persuasion, good governance, and service delivery rather than coercion or political manipulation.

We are not in a military era where people are captured. You are a leader because you do the right things for the people to follow you. So, I don’t think anybody is capturing anywhere, he added.

Obi, who has consistently advocated for issue-based and people-centered politics, said the belief that defections automatically translate to political dominance reflects a distorted understanding of democratic representation.

While describing Enugu Governor Peter Mbah as a good friend, Obi said he respects the governor’s personal decision to realign politically but maintained that the electorate ultimately holds the real power in any democracy.

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, he stated.

The former LP candidate, who placed third in the 2023 presidential election, warned that public officials must focus on policies that directly impact citizens’ welfare, stressing that no amount of political realignment can guarantee popular support without performance.

The government needs to do more if it wants the people to support it, Obi said.

His comments come amid mounting political tension following the wave of defections by opposition governors and lawmakers to the ruling APC.

Critics and civil society groups have expressed concern that the trend could push Nigeria closer to a de facto one-party state ahead of the 2027 general elections.

Political analysts say the defections reflect both strategic realignment and survival instincts among politicians seeking relevance under the current administration.

However, observers argue that the pattern undermines the growth of strong opposition and ideological consistency in Nigeria’s democracy.

Former Ekiti State governor Ayo Fayose recently declared the PDP “dead,” predicting more defections in the coming months. Similarly, party chieftains in Enugu and Bayelsa have pledged to rebuild the PDP in the aftermath of the high-profile exits.

Despite these political shifts, Obi maintained that Nigerians are becoming more politically aware and discerning, adding that the days when political elites could dictate voting patterns are over.

The future of our democracy depends on the people, not politicians. Nigerians are now more conscious of governance, and they will reward or reject leaders based on performance, he emphasized.

The statement further reinforces Obi’s long-standing message on political accountability, good governance, and the need for leaders to earn trust through service rather than political deals.

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