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By Oscar Okhifo
Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, on Tuesday took a swipe at former Labour Party presidential candidate, Peter Obi, over his decision to leave the Labour Party and join the African Democratic Congress.
Akpabio made the remark in Abuja while speaking at the inauguration ceremony of the state-of-the-art headquarters building of the Federal Inland Revenue Service.
The Senate President criticised what he described as a lack of political consistency, referencing a politician who secured millions of votes under one party but later moved to another platform.
“Somebody got about six million votes in the last presidential election through a political party and yet abandoned that party and the six million votes to start shopping for a new party that he will need to build up. I’m not talking about Chukwuma Soludo. I’m talking about somebody around his area,” Akpabio said.
Though he did not mention Obi by name, the remark was widely seen as a direct reference to the former Anambra State governor, who secured over six million votes in the 2023 presidential election.
Akpabio is not alone in his criticism of Obi’s political moves. Several commentators have questioned what they describe as his pattern of exiting parties during periods of internal challenges, tracing his trajectory from the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), to the People’s Democratic Party, (PDP), then to the Labour Party (LP) and now to the ADC.
Among those who have weighed in is veteran journalist, Babajide Otitoju, who has openly criticised Obi’s frequent party switches, questioning his capacity to manage political crises.
Otitoju argued that a leader who struggles to navigate challenges within his own party may face even greater difficulties handling Nigeria’s complex national issues if elected president.
Obi’s defection to the ADC has continued to generate mixed reactions, with supporters describing it as a strategic realignment ahead of future elections, while critics insist it raises concerns about consistency and long-term political commitment.
The comment by Akpabio underscores the intensifying political discourse as key actors reposition and align ahead of the next general elections.