A chieftain of the Labour Party (LP) and leader of the Obidient Youth Ambassadors, Meche Oswald, has attributed the recent wave of defections within the party to a controversial statement made by Peter Obi, the LP’s 2023 presidential candidate.
Oswald expressed concerns that Obi’s remarks about the Obidient Movement’s independence from any political party played a role in lawmakers leaving the LP for the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
In the past year, about six LP lawmakers have defected to the APC.
Obi had previously stated in a Twitter post that the Obidient Movement was not a directorate of any political party, emphasizing that its members were free to align with any political group of their choice.
However, Oswald, in a statement on Thursday, argued that Obi’s assertion, though possibly unintended, gave the impression that Obidients were not bound to the LP, which he believes encouraged defections.
He further revealed that one of the defectors, a member of the House of Representatives, privately admitted that Obi’s words influenced his decision to leave the party.
“After analyzing Peter Obi’s statement, I must express my reservations about its impact. In hindsight, I wish he had either refrained from making such remarks or sought guidance before making them public,” Oswald said.
“This statement suggests that the Obidient Movement is not necessarily tied to a single party. As a result, some individuals who defected to the APC may have felt justified in doing so. One such defector, a member of the House of Representatives, confided in me that Obi’s words emboldened his decision to switch parties.”
Oswald warned that Obi’s statement could have lasting consequences on his political journey.
He also suggested that Obi may have made the statement under pressure, particularly due to tensions within the party, including his interactions with the Director-General of the LP Directorate of Mobilisation and Integration, Marcel Ngogbehei.
“In retrospect, I wish Obi had considered the possible repercussions before making that statement. It is possible that he acted under duress, given the immense pressure from different quarters, including fears related to Marcel Ngogbehei,” Oswald stated.
He further alleged that some individuals within the Obidient Movement had ulterior motives, using their influence to destabilize the Labour Party before defecting to other parties such as the NRM and ADC.
“These self-serving individuals, who once identified as Obidients and LP members, had plans to weaken the party before moving on after failing to seize control,” he said.
Oswald argued that Obi’s remarks created a perception among supporters that they could freely switch political affiliations, which he believes has led to divisions within the movement.
“Abure’s genuine efforts were aimed at unifying the Obidient Movement. Now, the Directorate of Mobilisation and Integration (DMI) is achieving what the Obidient Directorate was initially designed to do. If the Obidient Directorate had been allowed to function as intended, we wouldn’t be witnessing these defections today,” he concluded.
