Former Labour Party, LP, presidential candidate, Peter Obi, has refuted claims of defecting to the All Progressives Congress, APC.

Obi, a former governor of Anambra State, said he has no intention of joining the ruling APC.

Posting on X, he distanced himself from any involvement in an APC gathering.

Obi assured that he does not involve himself in toxic politics, blackmail, or any form of political manipulation.

According to Obi: “I have come across a report circulating on social media regarding an APC gathering where my name was mentioned.

“Let me make it unequivocally clear: I do not engage in toxic politics, blackmail, or any form of political manipulation. My name should not be associated with such narratives.

“For the avoidance of doubt, both now and in the future, I am not a member of the APC, nor am I an intending member. My stance on politics has always been rooted in integrity, fairness, and issue-based engagement.

“I firmly believe that all political parties should assess aspirants solely on their competence, capacity, and compassion — qualities essential for building a better Anambra and a better Nigeria.

“As for Valentine Ozigbo, I maintain that he, like every other aspirant, should be evaluated based on these key leadership qualities in his new political party.

“I wish all political parties the very best in conducting free and fair primaries, and I call on all stakeholders to uphold justice throughout the process. We must reject toxic politics, for that is the only path to achieving the democratic nation we currently lack.

“By doing so, we will move closer to the new Nigeria we seek.”

The Social Democratic Party, SDP, presidential candidate in the 2023 general elections, Adewole Adebayo, says joining the party does not guarantee leadership.

This was as he said that a political party is a public institution like a church or a mosque where people are free to come.

This comes a few days after the immediate past governor of Kaduna State, Nasir El-Rufai, joined the SDP after resigning from the All Progressives Congress, APC.

Adebayo on Thursday said while people were free to worship in a mosque or church, their attendance does not elevate them to the position of authority.

“We cannot criticise people’s motives for coming. A political party is a public institution, like a church or a mosque.

“When somebody’s presence is marked in a mosque and wants to pray, you cannot say, where were you last night? Where have you been during your life? Let them pray.

“If you come to a church, you sit at the pew and you say you want to kneel and pray, the pastor cannot say, wait, I saw you at the nightclub last night. He has to allow you to pray.

“So, coming to the mosque to pray does not mean that you will be made the chief imam. Coming to the church to pray doesn’t mean you are going to be anointed as a bishop, but you are free to come because it’s a place that allows everyone to come,” he said.

He warned against petty fights, ego clashes, and distractions among party members, adding that such action may open doors for opponents to exploit.

The Abia State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, has condemned the decision of the member representing Isiala Ngwa South constituency, Rowland Dennis Chinwendu, to leave the party and join the Labour Party, LP.

Chinwendu’s defection was announced on the floor of the Abia State House of Assembly on Tuesday, a few days after rumours surfaced that he was planning to leave PDP.

Reacting to the development, PDP stated that it would immediately write to the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, to declare the lawmaker’s seat vacant without delay.

In a statement issued on Tuesday evening by Eric Ikwuagwu, the Publicity Secretary of PDP in Abia, the party described Chinwendu’s defection as unethical and unconstitutional.

According to Ikwuagwu, Section 68(1)(g) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (as amended) clearly stipulates that any member of a legislative house who defects from the party on whose platform they were elected must vacate their seat unless there is a clear division or merger in the original party.

He explained that no division or merger currently exists in the Abia PDP.
The party also stated that it would “institute immediate legal proceedings in a court of competent jurisdiction to ensure that the constitutional provisions protecting the integrity of our democratic system are strictly upheld.”