Factional Publicity Secretary of the Labour Party (LP), Abayomi Arabambi, has said the party regrets selecting Peter Obi as its presidential candidate in the 2023 general election.
Speaking at a press conference in Abeokuta, Ogun State, on Friday, July 11, Arabambi claimed that the party would have been better off fielding Faduri Oluwadare Joseph — a U.S.-licensed nurse and entrepreneur — instead of Obi. He argued that Faduri possessed a more nationalistic outlook and would have brought a better approach to governance if elected.
Arabambi criticized Obi’s campaign, accusing it of fostering ethnic division and lacking in substance.
“Perhaps the most damaging aspect of Obi’s candidacy was how it became ethnically polarised,” he said. “While Faduri commanded support across different regions, Obi’s movement, whether by design or accident, fed tribal sentiments.”
He further accused Obi of failing to clearly distance himself from divisive rhetoric, particularly regarding the agitation led by Nnamdi Kanu, leader of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB).
Arabambi said: “Nigeria does not need a president who overlooks extremism for political gain. It needs someone with a firm grasp of law, unity, and national healing — values Faduri represents.”
The factional spokesman also revealed that the LP leadership is considering expelling Obi from the party over his involvement with the newly formed coalition led by the African Democratic Congress (ADC), which aims to challenge the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in the 2027 elections.
He concluded by saying the Labour Party must avoid what he described as the “mistake” of 2023 and focus on candidates who prioritize substance and nation-building over populism and campaign slogans.
