Obi reaffirms LP membership as party renames Obidient directorate

The presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP) in the 2023 elections, Peter Obi, has reiterated that he remains a member of the party. 

Obi’s reaffirmation comes on the heels of the crisis rocking the party over the creation of a directorate and constitution of leadership for the Obidient Movement.

Recall that Obi, on Wednesday, disowned the ‘Obidient Directorate’ set up by the party.

But following reactions that trailed his statement, the former Anambra State governor again took to his X (formerly Twitter) account on Thursday to clarify his stance as it relates to the party. 

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“For the avoidance of doubt, I remain a committed, loyal Labour Party member. That is my definitive response to all Nigerians who may be in doubt about my party affiliation in light of recent reports and conflicting interpretations of recent political expressions. 

“Indeed, as a leader of the party, my aspiration and desire working closely with other leaders is to reconcile our valued members and partner with like-minds and parties all over the country to build a strong and better party that will catalyse and commence the rebuilding of a new Nigeria. 

“My statement yesterday was intended to clarify some issues that are of concern to our teeming supporters, some of whom are not members of any political party but are desirous for a new Nigeria. Our goal and aspirations remain that a new Nigeria is possible.” 

Meanwhile, the party’s National Working Committee has renamed the controversial ‘Directorate of Obidient Affairs’ as the Directorate of Mobilisation and Integration. 

The national publicity secretary of the party, Obiora Ifoh, who made this known on Thursday in a statement in Abuja, said the inauguration of the new directorate would take place on Saturday, June 8, at the party’s national secretariat, Utako, Abuja. 

It would be recalled that the LP last Thursday appointed a 10-man committee to pilot the affairs of the directorate. 

The spokesman of the LP, Obiora Ifoh, noted in a statement that the appointment was part of the repositioning efforts of the party towards integrating millions of youths, particularly the ‘Obidient family’ into a larger family. He listed Mr. Marcel Ngogbehei as the director of the body, while Ajiu Elumelu is the deputy director (Diaspora). 

Obi, however, faulted LP’s moves on the ‘Obidient Movement.’ 

“I like to categorically state that the Obidient Movement is not a directorate of any particular political party. Any individual or individuals claiming to be leaders of this non-existent directorate are simply not members of the broader Obidient Movement. 

“There may be a youth mobilisation directorate in political parties, but the Obidient Movement is far beyond a particular political party. The movement is diverse, inclusive, and transcends traditional, political, religious, and ethnic affiliations,” Obi stated in his X handle.