The presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP) in the 2023 elections, Peter Obi has disclosed the reasons behind his absence from the party’s national convention.
Recall that the LP conducted a controversial national convention in Anambra state on March 27, which re-elected Julius Abure as its national chairman.
Obi’s absence from the convention has sparked speculation that he might be considering leaving the LP for another political platform.
During a Spaces session on X (formerly Twitter) hosted by Parallel Facts on Friday night, the presidential candidate stated that when the party leadership approached him about the convention, he suggested they first consult key stakeholders before proceeding with the event.
He said, “We made a commitment to develop Nigeria, not to establish a new Labour Party.
“When the chairman approached me about the convention, I urged him to consult all stakeholders, including Governor Otti, Vice-Presidential Candidate Datti, senators, house of reps members, gubernatorial candidates, and all other groups, to ensure the involvement of NLC, TUC. It’s essential to have a well-organized convention, starting with congresses, to address grassroots issues. Only after organizing ourselves can we proceed to the convention.”
Obi further elaborated on why he refrained from commenting on the allegations of fund misappropriation against the national chair of the party.
Obi said, “It is because we have written to a competent, qualified auditor to audit the accounts of the Labour Party and our campaign.”