The National Working Committee (NWC) led by Lamidi Apapa, the factional National Chairman of the Labour Party (LP), has extended birthday greetings to the party’s flag bearer, Mr. Peter Gregory Obi, as he celebrates his 62nd birthday.
However, amidst the celebration, the Apapa-led NWC expressed remorse for nominating him as the party’s presidential candidate for the 2023 election.
The faction stated that instead of representing the diverse interests within the party, Mr. Obi seemed to prioritize the interests of a specific faction.
In a statement released by the Suspended National Publicity Secretary of the Labour Party, Comrade Abayomi Arabambi, on Wednesday night, the faction urged Mr. Obi to reflect on being a statesman rather than an individual driven by regional biases.
“The National Working Committee (NWC) of the Labour Party (LP) extends its warm felicitations to our popular presidential candidate, Mr. Peter Gregory Obi, on his 62nd anniversary.
On this occasion, we hope he takes the opportunity to deeply reflect on his role as a statesman representing broader national interests beyond his ethnic inclinations.
“While we celebrate with him and wish him good health and prosperity, we cannot ignore recent developments that have undermined the discipline and integrity the Labour party stands for.
Regrettably, we acknowledge that fielding him as our presidential candidate was a mistake, and we pledge not to repeat it.
“It is concerning that Mr. Obi, despite not being a member of the Labour Party, relied on a ‘non-party agent’ to defend his alleged stolen mandate in court. This action, along with other incidents, has raised concerns among our party stakeholders.
“We hope that this birthday serves as a turning point for him to become a better Nigerian, transcending regional prejudices.
The Labour Party stands for unity and the representation of all citizens, and we expect our candidates to embody these values.”
While the faction extended birthday wishes to Mr. Obi, their statement made it clear that they regretted their decision to field him as their presidential candidate due to his actions that seemed contrary to the party’s principles.
