Amidst the wave of political defections rocking Nigerian politics, a prominent Labour Party chieftain has declared that the party remains the political home for Obidients and is positioned to deliver an even stronger performance in the 2027 general elections.
Defying the Trend: Why I Chose Labour Party
Onyemais Ogochukwu Onyemais, former Deputy President-General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo and Labour Party stalwart in Enugu State, has explained his decision to join the Labour Party when many politicians were flocking to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
"My movement was prompted by my independence of thought, character, and what I represent," Onyemais stated in an exclusive interview. While acknowledging that many politicians were scrambling for offices in the APC, he emphasized that his motivation was different.
After remaining loyal to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for 24 years and funding the party, Onyemais decided it was time to quit responsibly by rejecting every appointment, even before appointments were made after the 2023 elections.
He joined the Labour Party because of its impressive performance in the 2023 elections, particularly in Enugu State where the party won 14 out of 24 State House of Assembly seats, seven out of eight House of Representatives seats, and two out of three senatorial seats despite having no governor or elected officeholder previously.
The Real Crisis: Officeholders vs The People
Addressing the mass defection of elected officials from the Labour Party, Onyemais dismissed the notion of a membership crisis, stating that "those leaving the Labour Party are not the Obidients."
He criticized elected officials who abandoned the party under the guise of crisis, noting that their movement revealed they didn't join to serve the people but themselves. "If there is a crisis, you stay and solve it," he emphasized, questioning why they only talked about crisis when the ruling party didn't offer them tickets.
Onyemais remains optimistic about the party's future, asserting that Peter Obi remains the leader of the party and whether he decides to run through the party or a coalition, the political wave will still flow.
"I am optimistic that it will be even better in the next election than it was in 2023. It will be a higher wave in 2027. Nothing has gone wrong," he declared confidently.
Broader Political Implications
On the wider issue of party switching in Nigerian politics, Onyemais described it as "one of the ills of our society" that is killing democracy. He lamented that it shows Nigerian politicians lack ideologies and play politics for stomach infrastructure.
He pointed to the Rivers State scenario where the entire State Assembly quit the party that brought them to power yet retained their seats as particularly troubling. According to him, this practice challenges democracy until properly addressed.
The Labour Party chieftain also expressed concern about the current state of the nation, citing economic challenges, rising international borrowing, and worsening insecurity. "Nigerians cannot sleep with two eyes closed," he noted, highlighting school closures due to kidnapping threats.
On Igbo politics, Onyemais attributed the division to self-interest rather than the overall interest of the people. He advocated for single tenures to eliminate second-term calculations that often compromise governance.
Regarding Ohanaeze Ndigbo, he acknowledged deterioration but stressed the organization can be restored if governors stop using it for politics and allow it to maintain its independence as a socio-cultural group.
Despite current challenges, Onyemais maintains that the Labour Party's foundation remains strong with the people, and the ongoing leadership crisis will be resolved before the next elections, positioning the party for greater success in 2027.
