The member representing AMAC/Bwari Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives, Joshua Chinedu Obika has said he dumped the Labour Party (LP) in March and joined the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) because he knew that former Anambra State Governor Peter Obi would not get the presidential ticket of the Africa Democratic Congress (ADC).

Obika was reacting to insinuations that he rode on the back of Obi to win his election into the House and later dumped the ex-governor for the ruling party.

The lawmaker explained that since he was convinced that Obi would not win the ADC’s presidential ticket because of former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, he (Obika) never wanted to be left in the political wilderness.

Announcing his defection to the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) few days ago, Obika said even when Obi left the LP for the ADC, he remained in the LP but left because he was sure that the party would not be able to present candidates for next year’s general election.

He said: “Most of us are aware of the crisis in the Labour Party and the fact that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) refused to upload the names of our candidates for the FCT Area Council election. When a party is not sure of itself, it ceases to exist. I waited in the party even when others were leaving until Obi left the party.

“Obi made up his mind to join the ADC, but we knew that he could npt win the ADC’s ticket because of Atiku’s influence and that of his other colleagues in the ADC.

“Some of us thought that if we joined the ADC… but the ticket… Based on the Electoral Act, Obi failed to get the ticket, and we would be ineligible to contest. Many of us will face serious difficulty and we may lose out of the elections.

“Obi has said that even if it takes him crossing over to 20 parties to get the job done, he would do so. Obi has defected to several parties. Even the President has done the same thing. All Nigerians should not even be talking about political parties now, but think of how to work together to have a better Nigeria.

“I remained in the LP. But I find it difficult to understand the people in the ADC because they cannot be differentiated from the APC. The only two people with the right credentials presently to lead the country are Obi and Kwankwaso, and we believe that they will give us what Nigerians want.

“Even though I joined the APC weeks after he joined the ADC, I cannot stand against him because he fought to bring us to where we are, in office today.”

Obika insisted that those accusing him of betrayal were only interested in his seat as a member of the House of Representatives.

The lawmaker alleged that such people would do anything to bring him down.

According to him, Peter Obi remains the best option for the nation’s presidency and should be supported by all Nigerians.

Throwing his weight behind the Presidency to remain in the South, Obika said if Peter Obi had not joined the NDC with an assurance of getting the presidential ticket, he would have stood beside President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to complete the two terms of the South. (The Nation)

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