nigerian ruling Congress of all progressives (APC) has described one of the main opposition candidates, Peter Obi of the Labor Party, as an electoral trader without any distinctive political ideology.
Salihu Lukman, APC National Vice President (Northwest), said in a statement on Sunday that Obi lacks the capacity to solve the challenges facing the country.
Mr. Obi, the former governor of Anambra State, leads several opinion polls that were conducted ahead of the February 25 presidential election.
Although many have expressed doubts about Mr Obi’s ability to win elections due to the lack of political structure, he enjoys support in the southern part of the country, and particularly among the youth, who see him as “a bit of a fresh “. air.”
But Obi’s opponents point to his record of switching from one political party to another.
He was governor under the Grand Alliance of All Progressives no. In 2019, he was the running mate of the Peoples’ Democratic Party’s (PDP) presidential candidate, and last year he moved to the LP after it became clear he would not win the PDP’s presidential ticket.
Election Trader
“In terms of the person of Mr. Peter Obi, so far, his characteristics are those of a typical Nigerian politician who is more of a poll trader who runs for election every four years, even if it means changing political parties.
“Being an electoral merchant connotes an evident lack of commitment and discipline to be loyal to any political party. This partly explains why Mr. Obi moved from the All Progressive Grand Alliance (APGA) to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and now to LP between 2015 and now.
“Mr. Obi is clearly oblivious to any ideological point of view that might bring him closer to the working class, which is LP’s core constituency. Some of us are privileged to have been intellectually and organically connected to that constituency,” he said.
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Mr Lukman also refuted the rumor that he may be working for Mr Obi’s rise despite being a member of APC’s National Labor Committee.
“Many of us in APC are supporting Asiwaju as part of our ongoing campaign to continue building APC as a progressive party, capable of producing accountable elected representatives at all levels.
“We do so with full confidence that Asiwaju will build on President Buhari’s legacy, which also includes respecting internal debate and contestation within APC. APC is the only party today in Nigeria that allows internal disputes and debates,” he said.
