Labour Party explodes: Peter Obi’s ‘Soul and Spirit’ now in ADC

By Adejoke Adeleye

The Labour Party (LP) has sparked a political stir after declaring that the “soul and spirit” of its 2023 presidential candidate, Mr. Peter Obi, are no longer with the party, claiming instead that his loyalty now lies with the African Democratic Congress (ADC).

Addressing journalists in Abeokuta, Ogun State, on Thursday, the National Publicity Secretary of the Labour Party, Dr. Abayomi Arabambi, made the explosive statement while publicly endorsing 2027 presidential aspirant Faduri Oluwadare Joseph.

Arabambi stated that although Obi’s “body remains in Labour Party,” his “heart is no longer in the party,” suggesting a complete loss of faith in Obi’s commitment to the LP.

“The 2023 presidential election will forever linger in Nigeria’s collective consciousness not merely as a contest of candidates, but as a revelation of what happens when political expediency overtakes principle,” Arabambi said.

“At the heart of this tragedy lies Labour Party’s catastrophic miscalculation in sidelining Faduri Oluwadare Joseph, a man of unimpeachable credentials and visionary leadership, for Peter Obi, whose political career has been an elaborate exercise in smoke and mirrors.”

The LP spokesman offered a scathing critique of Peter Obi’s leadership style, accusing him of relying on “emotional rhetoric and oversimplified solutions” instead of substantive policy proposals.

He alleged that Obi’s economic pronouncements were often “misleading and lacked depth,” pointing to a recent interview where the former Anambra State Governor, according to Arabambi, manipulated Nigeria’s debt figures for political effect.

“Obi presents himself as a frugal leader, yet flies private jets. He condemns necessary government security spending but, as a governor, distributed hundreds of vehicles to traditional rulers,” Arabambi said.

He further accused Obi of playing into ethnic sentiments and failing to present a truly national agenda, noting that his refusal to firmly denounce the rhetoric of separatist leader Nnamdi Kanu undermines his claims of national unity.

In contrast, Arabambi heaped praise on Faduri Oluwadare Joseph, describing him as a competent, visionary, and nationally-minded figure whose credentials far exceed those of Obi.

He cited Faduri’s experience as a licensed nurse in the United States, a business executive, and a civic leader with deep roots in Nigeria’s socio-political landscape.

“Faduri’s mission is unambiguous: to rescue Nigeria from corruption, inefficiency, and systemic failure,” Arabambi said.

“His vision is not built on slogans but on a roadmap for economic revitalisation, institutional integrity, and national cohesion.”

Arabambi described the LP’s previous endorsement of Obi as “one of the most consequential missteps in Nigeria’s political history” and called on Nigerians to avoid a repeat of what he termed a populist distraction.

“Instead of a leader with depth and discipline, Nigeria got a populist who tells people what they want to hear,” he said.

“In 2027, the nation needs leaders like Faduri — those who understand that governance is not theatre, but sacrifice, substance, and systemic reform.”