By Muhammad Mamman
A former Delta State governorship aspirant, Dr O’Diakpo Obire, has criticised former Labour Party presidential candidate Peter Obi, arguing that strong political leaders do not shift from one party to another as frequently as Obi has been accused of doing.
In a statement assessing Nigeria’s evolving political landscape, Obire said leaders aspiring to national office must show stability, organisational strength and the capacity to confront internal party challenges rather than abandoning them.
“Strong politicians do not migrate the way Peter Obi is doing,” Obire said, insisting that effective leadership requires resilience and commitment to institution-building.
According to him, Obi should prioritise resolving internal crises within the Labour Party rather than considering a move to the African Democratic Congress (ADC) or other platforms.
“A leader must be able to stand firm, put his house in order and be prepared with his loyalists to fight the political battle,” he said. “He should begin by fixing the problems within the Labour Party.”
Obire also dismissed the ADC as a viable alternative, describing the party as lacking cohesion and direction.
“There is effectively no structure in the ADC; it merely comprises a group of disgruntled individuals,” he argued, warning that switching parties offers no guarantee of success. “There is no guarantee that he will emerge as the presidential candidate of the party.”
Peter Obi has not formally responded to Obire’s remarks, though public debate continues over his next political steps as Nigeria edges closer to another election cycle.
