Peter Obi’s political weight is diminishing, says Lagos LP chair

Dayo Ekong, the Lagos State Chairman of the Labour Party (LP), has called on former presidential candidate Peter Obi to reflect on his recent political moves, warning that his appeal among Nigerians is diminishing.

She made this call in a post on her X page on Tuesday.

She noted that Obi’s 2023 popularity came not only from his personality but also from party structures, grassroots mobilisation, and a public hunger for change.

“The Labour Party, once a beacon of hope for the masses, is now grappling with issues that threaten its unity and relevance in Nigeria’s political landscape. Chief among these is the meddlesome role and evidently waning influence of our former presidential candidate, Mr. Peter Obi.

“While I respect his contributions and the passion he ignited in 2023, it is time for a candid conversation. Mr. Obi must recognize the grace that propelled him in the last election cycle—a divine and collective favor from the party and the electorate—and reflect on how his recent actions are eroding that very foundation,” she said.

Ekong argues that Obi’s political influence is no longer what it once was. She observed that Nigerians are beginning to lose patience with what they see as “inconsistent antics and political maneuvering.”

According to her, Obi’s interventions, once celebrated as principled, are now “viewed as disruptive and self-serving, alienating allies and diminishing his appeal.”

She pointed to recent electoral outcomes where his endorsements failed to secure victories, describing them as clear signs that “his magnetic pull is waning.”

Ekong cited Obi’s involvement in the 2024 Edo State governorship election, where despite vigorous campaigns for Labour Party candidate Olumide Akpata, the party lost heavily to the APC’s Monday Okpebholo.

She argued that Obi’s role deepened internal party rifts and failed to translate into electoral victory.

She also pointed to the 2023 Imo governorship election, where Obi supported Labour’s Senator Athan Achonu but still faced another decisive defeat against the APC’s Hope Uzodimma.

In the Anambra by-elections, however, Obi’s sudden switch of allegiance unsettled supporters and raised questions about his consistency.

Ekong warned that such actions risk confusing party loyalists and undermining Labour’s chances if not addressed before 2027.

She said that just before the polls, Obi shocked many by abandoning Labour’s candidate and openly backing Justina Azuka of the ADC, even campaigning in an ADC cap. According to her, the gamble failed as ADC managed only 1,909 votes, while Labour performed even worse.

She added that APGA, without Obi’s support, won convincingly with 7,774 votes.

Governor Chukwuma Soludo, she noted, went as far as describing the outcome as the “death” of both ADC and Labour in Anambra—a stinging verdict on Obi’s waning influence in his own state.

“These patterns are not isolated; they point to a broader trend of waning influence. Public sentiment, as reflected in recent discussions, suggests that Nigerians are fatigued by Obi’s frequent shifts and perceived acrimony toward the Labour Party structures that once elevated him,” she said.

She said it was time for Obi to “take a step back and reflect deeply,” asking himself if he still carried the same grace and trust that propelled him in 2023.

She warned that his constant feuds and shifting loyalties—like the ADC episode in Anambra—were hurting both him and the party.

According to her, “the electorate is watching all these and slowly making up their minds against 2027.”

She stressed that the Labour Party remains committed to equity, justice, and progress, but needs leaders who place the collective above personal ambition.