By Ayobami Ife, Abeokuta
ABEOKUTA:The National Publicity Secretary of Labour Party (LP), Chief Abayomi Arabambi, has revealed the reason behind his recent meeting with the 2023 presidential candidate of the party, Mr. Peter Obi.
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The LP chieftain in a release made available to The Daily Crucible on Wednesday, March 12, also said the quest to see a new Nigeria emerge in 2027 and the conviction that only Peter Obi can make the dream happen as well as lead the project, informed why the two of them elected to bury their initial differences and meet to chart a winning path under Labour Party
He said it would be a mistake for the country and her over 200 million population – Nigerians, if the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) and President Bola Ahmed Tinubu are re-elected to lead Nigeria beyond 2027.
Arabambi said any attempt to reward what reckoned as Tinubu/APC family and friends administration with another four – year tenure is a sure recipe for total collapse of the Nigeria’s economy.
He cited the increasing economic hardship, epileptic power supply due to constant national grid collapse, crushing inflation, unemployment among other ills plaguing the country on the watch of the APC – led administration at the centre since May 2023, as other reasons why the meeting with Obi took place with the sole objective and resolution to end the unpalatable narrative in 2027.
“It’s has become expedient for us in Labour party to immediately begin the healing process from the past and celebrate one of the best in Nigeria political trajectory. The visit aimed to commence a new era where we must neglect all evil minded political foes whose strength lies in our divisions. They simply utilize the differences to their advantage. Our party shall now henceforth respond adequately to any of their polluted posts against us or our party presidential Candidate in 2027.
“The Tinubu maladministration, insensitivity, economic adversity where most foreign companies have relocated out of Nigeria due to epileptic power supply and collapse national grid, the slides and continued devaluation of Naira, unemployment, misgovernance and institutionalised slavery is no longer fun, games and banter. The Tinubu administration has now graduated to T-Pain apps trying to disrupt people’s lives and their livelihood,” he said.
He recalled that the August meeting at the Lagos Yacht Club Onikan, Lagos on Saturday, March 8, 2025 afforded them another unique opportunity to re-examine what happened in the Labour Party during the 2023 election season and how the party can make a difference in 2027.
Arabambi revealed that the former governor of Anambra State has started reaching out to LP leaders, including Chief Lamidi Apapa, ostensibly to form a formidable and united party as it remains the only viable vehicle with Obi on the driver seat as its presidential flag – bearer to take Nigeria to the desired promise land.
“The visit was very germane because the sooner we started taking these issues seriously, the better. If we we don’t vote out this grossly incompetent administration out of power in 2027 and install Peter Obi/Labour party presidency, then Tinubu friends and family APC administration are heading to somewhere disastrous.
“Nigeria administration in 2027 isn’t something that should be toyed with else we are playing with fire.
The visit also discussed the marginalization of the East because Buhari who enthroned northanisation of appointments during his tenure is a learner compared Asiwaju who is fast transforming the current federal government into an ethnic Government of Yorubanisation. Our party believes no part of Nigeria must be subservient to other,” he said.
The LP National Publicity Secretary also faulted the 2023 Presidential elections result as declared by the Independent National Electoral Commission(INEC), saying it was insignificant to give any of the presidential election contestants victory as none of the candidates performed up to 50% of the total votes cast.
He expressed concerned it is only in Nigeria that a candidate with highest votes was declared a winner with a score less than 50% of the total votes cast.
He noted that there is now the need for the National Assembly to amend both the electoral Acts and Constitution to provide for a clause that for a candidate to be declared winner in a Presidential election in Nigeria, such a candidate must score 50% of the total votes cast, stressing this that it is necessary and should be put in place before 2027 general elections to make the winner a true reflection of the people’s choice.
“In the presidential election, APC/ Tinubu polled 8,794,726 votes just representing 36.6% of total votes cast with 25% performance in 27 states, the PDP/ Atiku Abubakar scored 6,984,520 votes which is 29.1% of total votes cast and secured 25% in 20 states. The LP/ Peter Obi 6,101,533 scored votes representing 25.4% of total votes cast with 25% in 16 states and NNPP/Rabiu Kwankwaso’s 1,496,687 score which is 6.2% of total votes cast and secured 25% in just one State.
“With this result above, it’s clear that it’s only in Nigeria that someone can be declared a president without scoring 50% . The visit therefore centered around amendments to our electoral acts and constitution with other stakeholders holders before 2027 General Election which can now represent true representation of votes,” Arabambi said.
