Juliet Oladele, Reporting
A senior Labour Party official has urged Peter Obi to reconsider his bid for the 2027 presidency, claiming that the former candidate’s recent television appearances have exposed troubling gaps in his record and raised serious questions about his competence to lead the nation.
Mr Arabambi Abayomi, the party’s National Vice Chairman (South West), issued a statement on Wednesday in Abeokuta, reacting to Obi’s interviews on Channels Television and Arise Television.
He commended the broadcasters and their interviewers, Seun Okinbaloye and Rufai Oseni, for subjecting the former Anambra State governor to what he described as “rigorous questioning”.
According to Arabambi, Obi struggled to provide convincing answers when pressed on his achievements, particularly in the education sector.
“The former governor failed to directly answer questions regarding schools built during his eight-year tenure, instead referring to clearing bush at the Igbariam campus of Odumegwu Ojukwu University,” Arabambi alleged, arguing that the response raised doubts about Obi’s legacy and the competence narrative that has underpinned his presidential ambition.
The Labour Party chieftain further accused Obi of habitually shifting the subject whenever confronted with his gubernatorial record, claiming the former candidate repeatedly redirected discussions towards broader national challenges such as insecurity and poverty rather than offering direct answers about his administration in Anambra.
Arabambi also pointed to what he described as contradictory statements on electricity policy.
He alleged that Obi had once acknowledged that uninterrupted power supply could not realistically be achieved within four years, only later to promise to generate, transmit and distribute 10,000 megawatts of electricity within the same timeframe—without adequately explaining how such a target would be met.
The party official equally questioned Obi’s failure to conduct local government elections throughout his tenure as governor, arguing that anyone unable to resolve governance challenges in a single state would face even greater difficulties managing Nigeria’s complex political and administrative structure.
“Nigeria is not Anambra State,” Arabambi asserted. “If you cannot manage a state effectively for eight years, how can you manage a country with over 200 million people, multiple ethnic groups and complex security challenges?”
In a stark assessment of the political landscape, Arabambi maintained that Nigerians are no longer persuaded by campaign rhetoric alone, insisting that voters now demand detailed policy roadmaps backed by evidence of previous achievements.
“I have been around Nigerian politics long enough to know that politicians often exaggerate their achievements or downplay their failures,” he said.
“Nigerians are tired of grand visions without concrete plans. They are tired of politicians who promise what they cannot deliver and are increasingly demanding honesty, competence and accountability from anyone seeking to lead the country.”
The LP chieftain consequently urged Obi to withdraw from the 2027 presidential race to avoid what he termed further “political embarrassment”, arguing that aspirants seeking Nigeria’s highest office must be prepared to answer critical questions about their records, policy proposals and implementation strategies.
He concluded that the electorate is increasingly unwilling to accept what he called “deceitful politics” in place of measurable performance, adding: “The era of empty promises and ambitious declarations without practical implementation strategies is over.”
