LP structure set to join Obi in ADC – Rivers chairman

The Chairman of the Nenadi Usman-led faction of the Labour Party in Rivers State, Gogo Wellington, says that party structures and organs across the states are expected to join its 2023 presidential candidate, Peter Obi, in the African Democratic Congress, ADC.

Wellington made the disclosure following Obi’s defection from the Labour Party to the ADC on Wednesday, alongside some LP stalwarts from the South-East.
The defection took place in Enugu State.

Speaking with our correspondent, Ifunanya Obeme-Ndukwe, Wellington explained that the party had been actively involved in opposition coalition talks, which he said had now been concluded.
According to him, the outcome of those discussions informed Obi’s decision to move to the ADC.

“The Labour Parry as it were, has been a part of the coalition discussions and as it is right now, those discussions have been concluded.
“That is what led to the movement of our principal, His Excellency, Peter Obi, formally into the ADC.
“It is expected also that the organs of the party across the various states will do likewise.”

Although he did not give a specific timeline for when other party structures would formally defect, Wellington said the process would be completed within a short period.
Addressing concerns over Obi’s defection to another political platform, Wellington, the leader of the Obedient Movement in Rivers State, attributed the move to unresolved internal issues within the Labour Party, noting that the focus of Obi and his supporters is to secure a viable platform for the 2027 general elections.
He expressed confidence in Obi’s ability to secure the ADC’s presidential ticket but added that even if that does not happen, the overriding objective of his supporters remains the rescue of Nigeria from its current challenges.

Wellington further stated that following Obi’s exit, his supporters no longer have a political stake in the Labour Party.
“We are all very much aware of the challenges that have bedeviled our principal’s political pursuit in the Labour Party.
“We’ve seen that the elements of destruction have sown their seeds within the labor party.
“That is what have led to the challenges that we’ve been having in labor party for over a year plus now.
“So, for His Excellency to have at first started conversation with members of the coalition which came from other political parties too; it was a welcome development to us because, we were looking for a viable platform to pursue the electoral pursuit of 2027.
“As it stands right now, we’re not worried, we’re not perturbed. I believe we have the capacity to take the ticket and even if the ticket doesn’t even come to us, right now what is principle to us is rescue Nigeria from the current situation that we’re in.
“So if our leader decides that he is moving to the ADC, we do not see any reason to stay behind.”