The Chairman of the Labour Party, Nenadi Usman, has revealed how the party’s former presidential candidate, Peter Obi, persuaded her and many others to defect ahead of the 2023 general elections.

Speaking on Prime Time on Arise Television on Wednesday, Usman said Peter Obi’s message of equity and fairness was the driving force behind the wave of support that strengthened the party at the time.

“Even me, he convinced me to come with him to the Labour Party and not just me, many people that are in Labour Party today were convinced by Peter because we believed in equity and fairness,” she said.

She explained that her decision to leave the Peoples Democratic Party was rooted in disagreement with its zoning position ahead of the presidential election.

“We believed that PDP should have zoned the seat to the South, but since they left it open and said they were not zoning and they were trying to field a Northerner, we felt it was not fair. Though I’m a Northerner, I felt it was not fair. That’s why I left, and quite a number of other people joined the Labour Party,” she added.

However, Usman noted that it may be difficult for Peter Obi to return and contest under the party’s platform ahead of the 2027 elections, citing internal timelines and electoral guidelines.

“Well, it will be too late, actually for him to come back, because if you look at the Act now, at some point we close the register, and once we close the register 21 days before primaries, submit the e-register to INEC. You can’t come from behind the door for us to register you and for you to contest,” Usman said.

Looking ahead, Usman said the Labour Party would refocus on its founding ideals of social justice and equal opportunity, pointing to Alex Otti, governor of Abia State, as a model.

“What I want Nigerians to expect henceforth is a new Labour Party that is going to be strictly based on the ideologies the party was built initially to represent… equal opportunity, social justice.

“And if you look at what the Abia Governor is doing, he’s strictly following those… He is what I would say is the ambassador of the Labour Party. He’s the only governor we have and he’s doing very well,” she said. (TRIBUNE)