Labour Party leader and 2023 presidential flag bearer, Peter Obi, has fired back at claims that the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) can “capture” the South East through a string of political defections, declaring that “the era of political conquest is over.”
Speaking to reporters in Abuja, Obi dismissed the notion that any party could take control of a region simply because governors or senators have switched sides.
“This is a democracy, not a military regime,” Obi said. “No one captures a state because a governor defects. The people will decide where to go, not politicians trading places for convenience.”
His remarks came amid a wave of defections from the opposition, including the recent move by Enugu State Governor, Peter Mbah, to join the APC; a move the ruling party has branded as part of its “strategic penetration” of the South East.
But Obi would have none of it. He said:
“Peter Mbah is my friend. He must have made his decision based on his own calculations. But let’s be clear: this talk of ‘capturing’ the South East belongs to a dark era. Leadership is not conquest. You win people’s trust by serving them, not by buying political loyalty.”
The former Anambra State governor said the federal government must earn public confidence by improving governance, not by manipulating defections.
“If this government wants support, it must deliver results, not drama,” Obi declared.
On Nnamdi Kanu ‘There Was No Need for His Arrest in the First Place’
Turning to renewed agitation for the release of IPOB leader, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, and the planned protests led by political activist Omoyele Sowore, Obi commended those pushing for justice and dialogue.
“I’ve always maintained that Nnamdi Kanu shouldn’t have been arrested,” Obi said. “I believe in consultation, negotiation, and discussion with anyone agitating. Let’s follow due process and engage constructively, not criminalize grievances.”
He insisted that peace will only come through dialogue and fairness, not force.
“There’s nothing wrong with agitating in a democracy,” he added, pointing out that “What is wrong is ignoring the issues or breaking the rules while addressing them. I thank those who are now saying openly what I’ve said since before 2020, let’s talk, not fight.”
‘INEC Must Redeem Itself’ — Obi to New Electoral Boss
On the appointment of Etekamba Amupitan as INEC Chairman, Obi said the 2027 elections must mark a turning point for electoral credibility in Nigeria.
“We want a new Nigeria where elections are free, fair, and credible,” Obi said, adding that “Competence, character, and compassion, not corruption and compromise must decide who leads. No position is permanent; what endures is integrity.”
He urged the new INEC boss to protect his name and legacy: “When he leaves that office, let him go home with his reputation intact. That’s worth more than anything.”
‘Invest in Education, Not Politics’
Obi spoke to journalists after visiting LEA Nursery and Primary School, Kapwa, a rural community in Abuja, alongside Dr. Moses Paul, the African Democratic Congress (ADC) chairmanship candidate for Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC) in the February 2026 elections.
He was visibly disturbed by the condition of the school, which he described as “heartbreaking.”
“A school with over 200 pupils has no toilets and broken furniture; this is unacceptable,” he lamented. “The most important investment any nation can make is in its children. That’s what real leadership looks like.”
Obi said he would personally help give the school a facelift, stressing that education, not political grandstanding remains the true foundation of national progress.
“I’m here to support my brother, Dr. Moses Paul, who’s campaigning to serve. We need leaders who walk with the people, not those who buy them.”
E-Signed:
Ibrahim Umar
POMR Spokesman
October 15, 2025
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