Former Labour Party presidential candidate, Peter Obi, has expressed his willingness to consider a vice-presidential role in the 2027 general elections if he finds someone capable of leading Nigeria better than himself.
In an exclusive interview with News Central TV, Obi emphasized his commitment to Nigeria’s progress rather than his personal ambition to be president. “Quite frankly, for me, I’m not desperate to be Nigerian president. I am desperate to see Nigeria work. If I see people who can do the work better, I will (consider being Vice President),” he said.
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The former governor of Anambra further explained that his focus is on driving Nigeria forward. He mentioned that some people have advised him not to run in 2027, to which he responded, “Offer yourself, and we will not put everybody on a scale.”
Obi also clarified his position regarding his affiliation with the Labour Party, stating he has no plans to leave the party but is open to collaborating with politicians whose goals align with his vision for Nigeria.
He said, “Yes, I would be here (at Labour Party), and if anybody is coming for us to negotiate or to come together, he must tell me what his purposes are. I will not join anybody for state capture or for winning the election. I want anybody to tell me how are we going to ensure that no child is left behind, how are we going to put those millions of out-of-school children back in school.”
However, controversy surrounds Obi and other prominent figures, as the Labour Party’s National Working Committee (NWC) recently called for investigations into the alleged misappropriation of campaign funds in 2023. The NWC, led by Julius Abure, requested that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the National Security Adviser (NSA) investigate Obi, activist Aisha Yesufu, Pastor Itua Ighodalo, and leaders of the pan-Yoruba group Afenifere.
At a press briefing in Abeokuta, the party’s National Publicity Secretary, Abayomi Arabambi, accused Obi and his associates of diverting over N12 billion and $15 million in donations intended for the Labour Party’s 2023 presidential campaign. Arabambi also labelled Obi a “political merchant” and criticized Yesufu’s recent public remarks defending herself, calling them attempts to obscure the truth.
Leaders of Afenifere, including Pa Ayo Adebanjo, Akin Osuntokun, and Sola Ebiseni, were similarly accused of retaining over N600 million meant for the campaign in private accounts under Obi’s directive. The allegations have raised significant concerns about the management of campaign funds within the party.
