A prominent youth organization, Omenuko Ndigbo United, has cautioned Peter Obi, the Labour Party (LP) presidential candidate in the 2023 elections, against isolating himself from ongoing efforts to unify opposition forces ahead of the 2027 general elections.
In a statement issued on Thursday, the group’s president, Benjamin Madu, expressed disappointment in Obi’s perceived reluctance to engage fully in coalition talks, warning that such behavior risks repeating the fragmentation seen in the last election.
“We are not happy with Peter Obi. Instead of joining hands with others to rescue Nigeria, he seems to be focused only on himself. This is not the time for selfish politics,” Madu said.
Madu accused Obi of contributing to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC)’s victory in 2023 by failing to collaborate with other opposition leaders. He noted that such disunity could once again undermine efforts to secure the presidency for an Igbo candidate.
“The current president is from the South. This is the best time for Ndigbo to push for the presidency. But we need unity. If Obi leaves the coalition, it will be harder for an Igbo person to become president in 2027 or even in 2031,” he added.
He further criticized Obi’s ambiguous political stance, suggesting it undermines trust within opposition circles.
“Obi is not fully part of the plans, and it’s starting to look like he is playing another game. We need to know what he really wants,” Madu remarked.
The group also drew attention to recent criticisms of Obi by APC supporters, including Reno Omokri, and argued that such attacks were reminiscent of 2023 tactics meant to divide the opposition and mislead voters.
Referencing warnings by journalist David Hundeyin, Madu emphasized the importance of avoiding fragmentation within opposition ranks.
“The mistakes of 2023 must not be repeated. If we allow disunity, we risk jeopardizing the Igbo presidency for another decade,” he said.
Madu urged Obi to clarify his intentions and actively engage in coalition talks.
“Nigerians deserve honesty. Peter Obi should stop pretending and tell us where he stands. We will not allow what happened in 2023 to happen again, especially if it will hurt the Igbo cause,” he stated.
In response to criticisms, Obi recently reaffirmed his commitment to the Labour Party and his intention to contest future elections under its platform.
“I will still continue to run in the Labour Party. I’m a member of the Labour Party,” Obi said on May 22.
He also highlighted systemic issues plaguing Nigeria’s political parties, stating, “Parties will function very well because you cannot have a system working without a strong opposition.” Obi assured supporters of his determination to address these challenges if given the opportunity.
