Presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP) in the 2023 elections, Peter Obi, has revealed why he did not attend the national convention of the party on March 27 in Nnewi, Anambra State.

Julius Abure’s re-election at theconvention as the national chairman of the party, has since been described as a ‘charade’ by the Nigeria Labour Congress and the party’s Board of Trustees.

Though the party’s 2003 presidential candidate, Obi, did not attend the convention, he was given automatic ticket as the party’s flag bearer in the next presidential election. Also, the governor of Abia State, Alex Otti, was given automatic ticket for the state’s governorship position in the next gubernatorial poll.

Obi, however, dismissed speculations that he may be mulling ditching the LP for another platform. He saidhe is still a member of the LP, stating that he would never engage in anti-party activities.

Speaking at a Spaces session on X (formerly Twitter) organised by Parallel Facts on Friday night, Obi said when the leadership of the party approached him regarding the convention, he advised them to consult key stakeholders first before proceeding with the event.

“We promised to build Nigeria, we did not promise to build a new Labour Party,” he said.

When the chairman approached me about the convention, I appealed to him to consult all stakeholders, starting from Governor Otti, vice presidential candidate, Yusuf Datti Baba-Ahmed, to senators, House of Representatives members, gubernatorial candidates, and all other groups.

Obi also explained why he did not comment on the allegations of misappropriation of funds against the national chairman of the party.

“It is because we have written to a competent, qualified auditor to audit the accounts of the Labour Party and our campaign,” he said. (Daily Sun)