Presidential candidate of the Labour Party in the 2023 election, Peter Obi, has said that the recent defection of some South Eastern state governors to the ruling All Progressives Congress APC will not guarantee the ruling party will capture the state in the 2027 general elections,

Obi was accosted by some reporters in Abuja earlier today and was asked to react to the defections by some lawmakers and state governors in the South East region to the ruling APC.

Obi explained that Nigeria was currently a democracy not under military rule where states can be “captured.”

According to him, the people will ultimately decide where to go, not governors or Senators, no party will capture or win any state just because it has a governor.

Speaking specifically on the defection of the Enugu State Governor, Peter Mbah, and APC’s alleged move to capture the South-East for President Bola Tinubu’s re-election, Obi said

“Peter Mbah is a good friend of mine. And I believe that as governor, he must have taken his decision based on his own political views and calculations.

As for the alleged plot to capture the South-East, we are not in a military time when you capture people. You are a leader. You tend to do the right things for them to follow you. So I don’t think anybody is capturing anywhere.

The government needs to do more if it wants the people to support it.”

Speaking on the planned protest for the release of Nnamdi Kanu by political activist Omoyele Sowore scheduled to hold on October 20, the former Anambra State Governor said

“I’ve always been consistent on Nnamdi Kanu’s situation. There was no need for his arrest in the first place. And I’ve always said that for me, I will consult, negotiate and discuss with anybody who is agitating. I said it clearly and I remain there.

I thank those who are actually trying to do or say what we’ve been saying for a long time. Go and check what I’ve said before 2020, 2022 and even 2024. And now that it has gone to court, the rules should be followed. Not just for Nnamdi Kanu, but for all agitators across the nation. Let’s dialogue with them.

There’s nothing wrong with anybody agitating or saying let’s dialogue with them. And whatever we do with them, let’s follow the rules. So I thank the organisers and those who are involved.”