Amid ongoing political realignments in Nigeria, fresh claims suggest that Peter Obi, the Labour Party’s (LP) 2023 presidential candidate, may abandon the party ahead of the 2027 elections. There are growing indications that he could align with the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), following in the footsteps of his close associate, Valentine Ozigbo.
Speaking on TVC’s Breakfast Show on March 12, a senior aide to President Bola Tinubu, Daniel Bwala, asserted that Obi’s departure from LP was inevitable. He cited Ozigbo’s recent move to the APC as a major sign, emphasizing that many former LP members are already shifting their political allegiance.
“We are not persuading them to leave, but they are coming to us willingly. Valentine Ozigbo has joined us, Balami has joined us, and I am certain Peter Obi will do the same. He will not contest under Labour Party in 2027,” Bwala claimed.
He further argued that Ozigbo, being a key figure close to Obi, was a strong indicator of the former Anambra governor’s next political move.
Ozigbo, who resigned from LP weeks earlier due to internal party crises, has also hinted at welcoming Obi into the APC should he choose to join.
Meanwhile, discussions around political defections have also extended to the Social Democratic Party (SDP), with speculation that opposition figures are considering the party as a potential coalition platform. However, concerns are mounting that these movements could lead to internal disputes.
Former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai’s defection to SDP has intensified discussions on opposition strategies ahead of 2027. However, Bwala believes the defections are primarily a media-driven spectacle that will soon lead to conflicts within the party.
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“Every week, they plan to announce a big-name defection to SDP to dominate media discussions. But once the hype fades, they will start fighting over who gets the presidential and vice-presidential tickets,” he predicted.
Bwala also suggested that El-Rufai chose SDP over the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) because he would not be able to control PDP’s internal structure.
With Nigeria’s political landscape rapidly evolving, more high-profile defections are expected in the coming months, setting the stage for a competitive 2027 election.
