Lucky Obukohwo, Reporting
The Labour Party has finally acknowledged that the exit of its former presidential candidate in the 2023 general elections, Peter Obi, dealt a significant blow to the party, describing him as a major force whose departure left a huge vacuum.
Truth Live News Media quoted that the party’s National Publicity Secretary, Ken Asogwa, said this while speaking on Monday during an interview on Channels Television’s Sunrise Daily.
He said Obi’s influence within the party was undeniable and his decision to leave marked a major turning point.
According to Asogwa, the party had already sensed Obi’s planned exit long before it became official on December 31 and had begun putting measures in place to reduce the political impact.
“We can’t close our eyes to the fact that we lost Peter Obi, and he was a colossus within the party.
“So the last time I came here, I remember saying to…his departure left a void in the party,” Asogwa said
Asogwa explained that the leadership anticipated the move after reports of Obi’s possible defection began circulating and immediately started rebuilding strategies to stabilise the party.
“Before his departure, the rumour was already out there that he was leaving. Before he eventually left, the new leadership had already taken a number of steps to cushion the effects of that departure,” he stated.
Asogwa noted that after Obi’s departure, the party returned to restructuring efforts and focused on strengthening its institutional foundation, particularly by reconnecting with the Nigeria Labour Congress and the Trade Union Congress.
He said the Labour Party recognised that its strongest support base lies within the NLC and TUC and worked to restore that relationship after what he described as a period of alienation under the former leadership.
“We discovered that the greatest potential that the Labour Party has is the institutional members it has in the name of NLC and TUC,” he said.
“We went back to marry them and successfully got them back. The former leadership alienated them, but thankfully we were able to bring them back into the fold.”
Despite losing Obi, Asogwa expressed confidence that the party still has the strength to produce another strong presidential candidate ahead of the 2027 general elections.
He maintained that the same Labour Party that produced Obi now has even greater capacity to present another candidate of equal political weight.
