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Tag: Peter Obi

  • Obi’s defection opens battle for ADC ticket with Atiku

    Obi’s defection opens battle for ADC ticket with Atiku

    The stage is set for the battle for the 2027 presidential ticket of the African Democratic Congress (ADC).

    Yesterday, former Anambra State Governor Peter Obi defected from the Labour Party (LP) to the opposition party, which serves as the platform for coalition forces led by former Vice President Atiku Abubakar.

    Contrary to the general feeling that ADC is being repositioned for the realisation of Atiku’s presidential ambition, Obi’s defection may have set up the battle with the Adamawa-born politician for the ticket.

    Obi, who ran for president on the platform of the LP in 2023 defected to the ADC during the  meeting of Southeast party chieftains held at the Nike Lake Resort in Enugu, capital of Enugu State.

    He was received into the fold by the Interim National Chairman, former Senate President David Mark, who applauded him for the bold step.

    Mark said Obi’s entry into the ADC signalled the return of the Southeast to the centre of national decision-making, adding that it is a clean break from politics of exclusion, deceit and broken promises.

    The Southeast geo-political zone which was controlled mainly by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) since 1991, is now dominated by the All Progressives Congress (APC).

    The ruling party has three governors – Enugu, Imo and Ebonyi. The All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) controls Anmabra, while Labour Party holds sway in Abia.

    Mark added: “Together, we will enthrone internal democracy, respect for party members and people-oriented governance. Our collective vision is a secure nation, a productive economy driven by true federalism, massive job creation, youth and women inclusion.”

    He assured new members of mutual respect, fairness, transparency and genuine partnership within the party, urging them to integrate into party structures, mobilise at the grassroots and deepen the ADC’s presence across the Southeast and beyond.

    Mark said: “This event is not just a reception; it marks the foundation of a strong and winning national coalition. ADC is your home. Together, we will rewrite Nigeria’s political story and secure a better future for generations to come.”

    Justifying his defection, Obi said it was guided by patriotism and the overriding national interest.

    He said he had decided to team up with ADC leaders to liberate the country from leadership failure.

    Southeast ADC stalwarts hailed the defection, saying that it would offer a veritable integrative platform for the zone.

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    Obi called for unity, credible elections and purposeful leadership to pave the way for socio-economic transformation.

    He said Nigeria was at a historic crossroads, stressing that moments of deep national crisis demand courage, clarity of purpose and decisive action.

    Obi said: “My decision to join the ADC is guided solely by patriotism and national interest. We must rescue Nigeria from division, injustice and ineffective leadership, and return power to the people.”

    He lamented what he described as the systematic erosion of democratic values, electoral malpractice and institutional weakness, insisting that electoral integrity should be the foundation of national rebirth.

    Obi called for the reforms of the electoral process, particularly the strengthening of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), credible transmission of results and strict adherence to electoral laws ahead of the 2027 general election.

    The former governor decried rising poverty, youth unemployment, insecurity and corruption, saying that over 130 million Nigerians were living in multidimensional poverty.

    But the Julius Abure faction of the LP chided Obi for compounding the party’s protracted crisis before leaving.

    The faction apologised to Nigerians for fielding him as candidate in the last general election.

    Abia State Governor Alex Otti, the only governor elected on the ticket of the LP, said although Obi informed him before leaving the party, he has no intention of abandoning it.

    Also, Presidential Adviser on Information and Strategy Bayo Onanuga, who reacted to the defection, said Obi cannot lead Nigeria because nations are built with home-grown policies and not cut-and-paste ideas.

    It was the third time the former governor would change parties since 2013 when he completed his two terms as governor.

    In 2019, he defected from APGA on the platform in which he ruled Anambra State to PDP, where he paired with Atiku as running mate during the poll.

    In 2023, Obi, who also left the PDP to LP to run for president, came third during the election, trailing Atiku of PDP and President Bola Ahmed Tinubu of the APC.

    Others at the event were Senator Aminu Tambuwal, Dr. Pat Utomi, Senator Ben Obi, Senator Tony Nwoye, Senator Gilbert Nnaji, Chief Onyema Ugochukwu, Chief Simon Okeke, Mrs. Josephine Anini, Idu Emeka, Sheumi, Harrison Ogara, Achike Udenwa, Sam Egwu, Okwesilieze Nwodo and Emeka Ihedioha; Senator Victor Umeh and Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe;

    Ihedioha, a former Imo State Governor, who moved the motion for the adoption of the ADC as a platform for Southeast stakeholders, said the region had suffered prolonged exclusion from the centre since 2015 and required a credible vehicle to guarantee inclusion, relevance and effective participation in national governance.

    He urged political leaders and supporters in the region to register massively with the ADC as a historic step towards restoring balance, justice and national cohesion.

    I’m not leaving LP, says Otti

    Otti said he has no intention of leaving LP, unless efforts to redeem the party fail.

    The governor, who reacted to the defection during his media chat at Umuahia, the state capital, said: “I joined Labour Party before Peter Obi. I didn’t join the Labour Party with him. He communicated me that he was leaving Labour Party and I gave him my blessings, but I remain in Labour Party.”

    He added: “I told him that I will have to continue the struggle to rescue Labour Party. That’s the party that brought me to power.

    “If we fight and get to the end and we can’t retrieve Labour Party, then, we can now discuss options. But for now, I am not defecting with him.”

    Abure: Obi unfit as candidate

    The Abure LP-faction in a statement by its Publicity Secretary, Obiora Ifoh, said the former governor had lost the 2023 charm.

    Ifoh mocked his defection speech, describing it as “lacklustre,” and “wondered what new he intends to sell to Nigerians.”

    He said the party was finally liberated by Obi’s defection, adding that it is a blessing.

    The statement reads in part: “It will be on record that the leadership of the Labour Party had since urged Obi and his disgruntled followers to exit the party if they were unable to work with the leadership of the party.

    “As a matter of fact, the party had suspended many of the lawmakers for anti party and was clearly going to meet the same treatment on the Presidential Candidate but for the intervention of some well meaning Nigerians.

    “The crisis we had in the Labour Party was caused by Peter Obi and the Abia state governor, Dr. Alex Otti. It was them that sponsored the insurrection against the Julius Abure leadership. We had also expected Governor Otti to follow Obi out of the party. We are surprised that even though he has been suspended from the party, he is still loitering around. It is still not too late for him to follow his political leader.”

    Why Obi can’t lead, by Onanuga

    Chiding Obi for hypocrisy, Onanuga said no country can achieve sustainable development by simply copying ideas and models from other nations without regard to local realities.

    In a post on Onanuga’s verified X handle, @aonanuga1956, Onanuga said that leadership requires originality and deep understanding of a nation’s peculiar circumstances, not imitation of foreign experiences.

    He said: “Nations are not identical, and what worked in Indonesia or the USA may not necessarily work in Nigeria. No leader can move a country forward by simply copying and pasting models from elsewhere. Nations require original thinkers, not copycats. Homegrown solutions are essential for proper development.”

    The presidential aide noted that Obi had abandoned the party he used to pursue his “ill-fated” presidential ambition in 2023, adding that nearly three years after the election, he is still aggrieved about the outcome.

    He said: “About three years after the 2023 election, Obi, the wandering politician, who moved from APGA to PDP to Labour and now ADC, still sounded bitter about coming third.

    “He continues to claim he was robbed of victory, even though empirical analyses of the poll showed he could not have won and was fortunate to even emerge third because of the anomalous polling figures recorded for him in his South East region.”

    In tweet on his X, Atiku expressed the hope that Obi’s defection would deepen relationship.

    The tweet reads: “Today marks a significant moment in the history of political coalitions in our country, with the official declaration of my brother and associate, Peter Obi, into the African Democratic Congress (ADC).

    “It is my pleasure to welcome him officially, as we look forward to a robust working relationship that will foster a virile opposition, one that will ultimately form a government capable of bringing prosperity and peace to our people.”

    ‘Obidient Movement will follow Obi to ADC’

    The National Coordinator of the Obidient Movement, Yunusa Tanko, said the supporters  will follow Obi to the ADC.

    Speaking on phone, he said: “We have made our position categorically clear right from the beginning that wherever Peter Obi is going we are going with him. We will make a declaration soon.

    “You can see at the declaration today that it was the Obidient Movement logo and that of the ADC. That is to tell you that we are stepping our foot where Obi steps his own foot. There is no ambiguity in that regard.”

  • Obidient movement will follow Obi to ADC – National coordinator 

    Obidient movement will follow Obi to ADC – National coordinator 

    The national coordinator of the Obidient Movement, Yunusa Tanko, has said that supporters of the former Presidential candidate of the Labour Party in the 2023 general election, Peter Obi, will follow him to the African Democratic Congress (ADC). 

    The 64 year old former Anambra State governor and some of his supporters, including serving federal lawmakers, officially joined the ADC on Wednesday at a ceremony in Enugu State. 

    Tanko confirmed that mobilisation for Obi’s supporters to join the ADC has already commenced.

    Speaking with The Nation, Tanko said, “We have made our position categorically clear right from the beginning that wherever Peter Obi is going we are going with him. We will make a declaration soon. 

    “You can see at the declaration today that it was the Obidient Movement logo and that of the ADC. That is to tell you that we are stepping our foot where Obi steps his own foot. There is no ambiguity in that regard.”

  • JUST IN: Peter Obi dumps Labour Party for ADC

    JUST IN: Peter Obi dumps Labour Party for ADC

    Former presidential candidate, Peter Obi, has announced his decision to leave the Labour Party and align with the African Democratic Congress (ADC), describing the move as part of his broader commitment to Nigeria’s socio-economic transformation.

    In a statement he issued on Wednesday, Obi said Nigeria is at a critical point in its history and requires clear purpose, unity and decisive action to address its challenges. 

    He noted that moments of national difficulty often demand fresh approaches and renewed resolve in order to secure a better future.

    According to him, Nigeria must recommit itself to true democratic values rooted in self-determination, equality and national cohesion. 

    He stressed that governance should reflect the will of the people and work in the collective interest of citizens.

    Obi reaffirmed his commitment to the defence and strengthening of Nigeria’s democratic system, emphasising the importance of credible, transparent and fair elections. 

    He called for comprehensive reforms of the electoral process, including strict adherence to electoral laws, improved transparency and institutional efficiency, noting that electoral integrity remains central to responsive and accountable governance.

    He warned that Nigeria, given its size, population and importance to Africa and the global economy, cannot afford democratic setbacks, adding that protecting democracy is essential ahead of future elections.

    Despite the challenges, Obi said he remains optimistic about Nigeria’s future, citing the country’s vast human and natural resources. 

    He reiterated his belief that a functional, inclusive and productive Nigeria is achievable with the right leadership, unity and policy direction.

    He explained that his political journey has been shaped by years of learning, leadership training and exposure to global best practices in governance and nation-building. 

    Drawing lessons from countries that have successfully achieved unity and development, Obi said Nigeria can also chart a new path towards stability and growth.

    Obi concluded by reaffirming his commitment to working with like-minded Nigerians within the ADC to pursue national unity, effective leadership and sustainable development for the benefit of all citizens.

  • Embrace hard work, integrity, Obi, Abaribe charge Shanahan varsity students

    Embrace hard work, integrity, Obi, Abaribe charge Shanahan varsity students

    Presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP), Mr Peter Obi and Senator representing Abia North, Enyinnaya Abaribe have charged Nigerian students to embrace hard work and integrity.

    The duo who stated this during the 2025/2026 matriculation ceremony of Shanahan University, at the Holy Basilica, Onitsha, Anambra State, charged 694 matriculants to aim for the top.

    Obi said: “I have always told this story, I was born here in Onitsha, and I attended Waterside Primary School over there, then I proceeded to Christ the King College, here in Onitsha too.

    “If there was a university in Onitsha, I would have attended one here. You are lucky we have universities in Onitsha today.

    “I want to charge you all to take your education seriously. I’m where I am today because of education.

    “I remember when Gen. Gowon was the Head of State, I was one of the primary school children who went to receive him when he visited Onitsha.

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    “Later in life, I and Gowon started sitting on the same table. That is what education can do; the reason I charge you to take it seriously.”

    On his part, Abaribe who was the keynote speaker at the event underscored the place of integrity and diligence among young people, just as he urged them to shun get-rich-quick syndrome.

    He said: “As young people, you must endeavour to steer clear of the many shiny, but temporary paths to success which have become so pervasive in our society today.

    “I promise you, none of these paths will last; rather you will be left with nothing but regrets. Desist from “YahooYahoo”, other social media-influenced immorality, cultism, political sycophancy and boot-licking.

    “These are not sustainable pathways which can only offer you temporary gratification, which suddenly fizzles into an emptiness that reveals a lack of value.”

    “Embrace excellence in character and academics. Together, they equip you to succeed in the world and make a definitive impact as leaders.”

    Earlier, Vice Chancellor of the institution, Rev. Fr. Prof. Josephat Oguejiofor pledged commitment of the institution to quality, assuring that the high standard set by management was attainable.

  • Lagos APC to Obi: stop politicising terrorism

    Lagos APC to Obi: stop politicising terrorism

    Lagos State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has condemned the latest reckless theatrics of Mr Peter Obi, ‘’who has shamelessly inserted himself into the ongoing judicial process involving Nnamdi Kanu, merely to claw back relevance in a political space that has long moved past him.’’

    The party in statement yesterday by its spokesman Seye Oladejo in Ogba, Lagos, said: ‘’Obi’s misguided attempt to ‘tackle’ the Federal Government and reject a valid court ruling is nothing more than the cry of a man whose political career is in its last embarrassing throes. He is desperately fishing in troubled waters, hoping to harvest sympathy that the Nigerian people have already denied him at the polls.’’

    Oladejo said only a man steeped in political confusion could refuse to condemn IPOB’s murderous activities, yet preached morality to the Nigerian state.

    He noted that only a man drowning in irrelevance would pretend to care about justice, while ignoring the innocent citizens maimed, slaughtered, beheaded, extorted and silenced under the reign of terror unleashed by IPOB militants.

    The Lagos APC spokesman said Peter Obi’s sudden moral awakening was fraudulent, his selective outrage was insulting and his attempt to dress up terrorism in the garb of sentiment was dangerous.

    The statement added: ‘’The salient question that Peter Obi must answer is simple: Why the inconsistency in his position? How does he condemn Boko Haram and their ilk wholeheartedly in one breath, only to embrace, defend and rationalise IPOB in another?

    ‘’This two-faced political morality exposes his deep-seated bias, his hollow rhetoric and his desperate ambition disguised as compassion.

    ‘’We strongly recommend that Obi drops his ethnic blinders, read the judgement without emotions, and in good conscience return to Nigerians with the truth about his sincerity and his innermost desires for the nation he claims he wants to lead.

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    ‘’There is nothing wrong in boldly admitting he is a regional champion committed to defending “his own”-  for good or for bad.

    What is wrong, however, is deceiving Nigerians with feigned neutrality and hypocritical sermonising.

    ‘’If Obi truly believes his own words, let him first explain: Why he maintained criminal silence when the Southeast burned. Why he could not condemn IPOB even once with clarity or courage. Why he continually plays both sides of the fence- leader by day, sympathiser by night.’’

    Oladejo said Obi’s rant was a pathetic audition for 2027 – another failed attempt to resurrect a political project ‘’that is now beyond resuscitation.’’

    ‘’He can rant from morning till night; national security will never be placed in the fragile hands of sentimentalists, who only speak when their political calculators beep. Nigeria will not negotiate its sovereignty to please a man battling political menopause.

    ‘’It is laughable- almost tragic – that Obi has found courage only at a time when Kanu’s fate is tied to a lawful judicial process. Where was this courage when IPOB criminals turned markets into war zones, instilled fear in school children and shut down the economic lifeline of his region every Monday? His cowardice then disqualifies him from pontificating now,’’ Oladejo further said.

    He noted that before Obi lectured Nigeria on justice, he should explain: The disintegration of his political movement. The desertion of his supporters and the slow but steady collapse of his overhyped political myth.

    ‘’Obi is not fighting for justice. He is fighting for visibility. He is fighting for political oxygen.

    He is fighting to avoid total oblivion.

    ‘’Nigerians must be alert to this dangerous brand of free-style politics – the type that seeks the destruction of what you cannot have;

    the type that weaponises ethnic sentiments, insecurity and national trauma just to stay politically-relevant.

    ‘’It will be most unfortunate if this, in the fullness of time, becomes a classic example of: ‘Show me your friends, and I will tell you who you are.’

    ‘’Nigeria’s national security is non-negotiable.

    Judicial processes must never be dictated by politicians in need of headlines.

    ‘’The Federal Government under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu will continue to handle matters of treason, terrorism and national stability with firmness, maturity and constitutional authority.

    ‘’Lagos APC urges Nigerians to treat Obi’s statement as what it is: a self-serving cry from a man watching his political walls collapse.

    ‘’Nigeria must not and will not be bullied by the theatrics of a desperate politician,‘’ statement said.

  • Soludo, Obi in renewed supremacy battle in Anambra

    Soludo, Obi in renewed supremacy battle in Anambra

    The supremacy battle between Anambra Governor Chukwuma Soludo and the 2023 Presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP) Peter Obi, has taken a new dimension with the duo engaging in renewed verbal war.

    Obi described Soludo as a footballer playing in junior league while he has graduated to a higher league, the Governor described him as a frustrated politician wandering without a club.

    Soludo also accused Obi of destroying the education system in Anambra State, promising to expose his wrong deeds during his time as Governor one day.

    The former Governor, who spoke with reporters after the declaration of the governorship results by INEC in a viral video, advised Soludo to concentrate and work for the people, adding that it was the reason they voted him 

    According to Obi: “He should concentrate on working for the people to make the place livable for them. 

    “I didn’t contest in the election. I was a Governor 13 years ago. I’m no longer in the league with him. If it’s in football, he is playing junior league and I’ve moved on to the Champions League.”

    After the short video clip, supporters applauded him.

    But replying him, Soludo, at the International Conference Centre, ICC Awka while addressing APGA chieftains and supporters on Tuesday immediately he received his Certificate of Return with Deputy Dr Onyekachukwu Ibezim, from INEC, said Obi’s political frustration has really touched him.

     “We wanted to coach him on how to play champions League after I had played there, he continues jumping from one place to another, and now club less. Idleness and serial loses can get into somebody’s head at times.

    “Someone wanted to be like late Dim Odumegwu Ojukwu by trying to raise someone else’s hands and following him to wards, communities and local government areas on campaigns,yet, nothing happened. 

    “He was seen begging his community not to let him down before the election yet APGA beat him in all the four Wards in his community, his own Ward where we decided to allow him to win in other not to be disgraced, APC went there and won him.

    “He put up everything within his armoury to unseat Soludo,criss -crossed every nook and cranny , with his picture all over the billboards raising somebody’s hand the way Dim Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu did, you can see the bitterness and frustration but it didn’t work,” Soludo said.

  • Obi has lost popularity, says Lagos APC

    Obi has lost popularity, says Lagos APC

    The Lagos State Chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) yesterday said that the 2023 Labour Party (LP) presidential candidate, Peter Obi, has lost popularity.

    The chapter said the earth-shaking news from Anambra State that he lost his polling unit to the APC is a confirmation.

    Lagos APC Publicity Secretary Seye Oladejo said in a statement that “this is not merely a defeat,” stressing that it is a public humiliation and the loudest confirmation that the so-called “Obidient movement” is nothing more than a political hologram- bright on social media, empty in real life.

    He said: “Today, the people who know Peter Obi best- his neighbours, his own community, his supposed natural base- have delivered an unmistakable judgment:

    “We reject you. We don’t trust you. We have seen through you.”

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    Oladejo said for years, Obi built his brand on self-righteous monologues, manufactured statistics, emotional manipulation, and a carefully cultivated aura of victimhood.

    He said Obi weaponized ignorance and sentiment to mislead the youth, pretending to be Nigeria’s political saviour while lacking the basic capacity to win at home.”

    Oladejo added: “Now the mask has fallen. A man who cannot win his polling unit has no business dreaming of winning a country.A man who is rejected on his street cannot claim nationwide acceptance. A man whose strongest base has crumbled cannot sell the lie of a national movement.”

    To the spokesman, this defeat marks the complete disintegration of the myth around Obi.

    He added: “To compound the embarrassment, we sincerely hope Mr. Obi will not run to beg for foreign intervention to rescue him from this political free fall, as he has unashamedly attempted in recent times.

    “Nigeria’s democracy is not a toy for desperate politicians seeking sympathy abroad after being rejected at home.

    “While President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is rebuilding institutions, fixing the economy, expanding infrastructure, attracting foreign investments, and restoring global confidence, Peter Obi is busy granting contradictory interviews, seeking international validation, and hiding behind hashtags that collapse at the ballot box.

    “Reality has caught up with him. If Peter Obi cannot command trust in his polling unit, he should forget 2027. Nigerians will not hand over their destiny to a man whose own people have loudly withdrawn their confidence.

    “The APC’s victory in his unit is symbolic, conclusive, and prophetic.

    It reflects the national mood: performance is triumphing over propaganda; structure is defeating chaos; delivery is destroying deception.

    “Peter Obi should spare the nation further melodrama. Let him first repair the political damage at his doorstep before pretending he can repair Nigeria.”

  • APC clears Peter Obi’s polling units as early results trickle in

    APC clears Peter Obi’s polling units as early results trickle in

    The All Progressives Congress (APC) posted a surprising win at the polling unit of former Labour Party presidential candidate, Mr. Peter Obi, as early results from parts of Amatutu village in Agulu, Anaocha Local Government Area, continue to emerge.

    At Polling Unit 019, Umudimakasi, Amatutu village, the polling unit where Obi voted, APC secured 73 votes, defeating Labour Party (LP), which polled 57 votes. 

    The All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) came third with 38 votes while four other parties: YPP, ZLP, APM, ADC and AAC, recorded one vote each.

    The outcome marks a notable upset, given Obi’s deep political roots in Agulu and the wider Anaocha area, where he has historically enjoyed strong support.

    Though Saturday’s election is not a presidential contest, the result at his polling unit drew attention from observers who had expected LP to dominate the area.

    However, APC governorship running mate, Senator Uche Ekwunife, hails from the area.

    Beyond Obi’s polling unit, early results from other units in Amatutu show the APC also leading.

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    At Polling Unit 015, located at Amatutu Village Hall, Agulu, APC won convincingly with 117 votes, far ahead of APGA’s 29 and Labour Party’s 10.

    Similarly, at Polling Unit 023, situated at the Model Primary Health Care Centre, also in Agulu, APC again came out on top with 25 votes, followed by APGA with 8 and Labour Party with 7. YPP and ADC secured one vote each.

    The consistency of APC’s lead across the three polling units suggests the party may be gaining ground in parts of Anaocha, traditionally considered stronghold territory for APGA and, more recently, LP.

    Collation of results is still ongoing across the LGA and the State.

  • Vote buying threatens democracy, Obi warns after casting ballot in Anambra

    Vote buying threatens democracy, Obi warns after casting ballot in Anambra

    Former presidential candidate Peter Obi has raised fresh concerns over what he described as the dangerous escalation of vote buying in the electoral process, warning that the practice is crippling the nation’s democracy and deepening bad governance.

    Obi spoke on Saturday shortly after casting his vote at Polling Unit 019, Umudim Akasi village in Agulu, Anaocha Local Government Area of Anambra State. 

    The Labour Party chieftain lamented that democracy in the country “is deteriorating,” blaming politicians and citizens who sell their votes for immediate gains at the expense of long-term development.

    According to him, reports he received from across communities showed that vote buying during the ongoing governorship election had risen to alarming levels.

    “What you see today is that vote buying is on the scale of N20,000 to N30,000,” Obi said. 

    “The question I ask is: if you sell your vote for N30,000, what are you going to be paid next month? By selling your vote, you’re selling no school, no hospital, no job. You’re selling away your future, and that is very worrisome,” Obi said.

    Obi, who has observed elections in other African countries, said the level of brazen inducement he witnessed in Nigeria does not exist

    He warned that as long as voters continue to exchange their ballots for cash, the country will remain trapped in a cycle of poor governance, mismanaged public resources and deepening poverty. 

    According to him, the real cost of vote buying is not the money exchanged on election day but the collapse of essential public services that follow.

    He stressed that citizens must understand the link between their choices at the polls and the quality of leadership they receive afterward.

    “People need to know that when you sell your vote, you are directly endorsing the same hardships — lack of jobs, broken schools, failing hospitals,” he said. “It is not grandstanding; it is the reality of why things don’t work.”

    The former Anambra Governor also charged security agencies to confront the problem with seriousness, saying that vote trading cannot thrive without the active collaboration of political actors and the silence of institutions meant to safeguard electoral integrity.

  • Fed Govt. faults Obi’s claim on port development

    Fed Govt. faults Obi’s claim on port development

    The Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy has faulted recent remarks by former Anambra Governor, Peter Obi, on the Federal Government’s approval of the $1 billion modernisation of the Apapa and TinCan Island Ports in Lagos. 

    The media aide to the Minister of of Marine and Blue Economy, Dr Bolaji Akinola in statement on Tuesday stated that Obi’s claim suggesting neglect of ports outside Lagos was incorrect and misleading.

    Akinola noted the federal government’s policies and actions demonstrate a balanced and inclusive approach to port development, guided by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, which seeks to promote national food security, economic diversification, and regional prosperity through the full harnessing of Nigeria’s maritime potential.

    A few days ago, Obi on his X handle, @PeterObi, expressed concerns over the concentration of port development only in Lagos.

    The post by Obi reads: “I have noted the Federal Government’s recent approval of $1 billion (₦1.5 trillion) for the modernisation of the Apapa and TinCan Island Ports in Lagos. While any effort to improve efficiency and embrace technology in our maritime sector is commendable, such an initiative must be guided by accountability, transparency, and equity for all Nigerians.

    “However, this development once again exposes a longstanding concentration of our port development only in Lagos. Nigeria’s infrastructure investment remains excessively concentrated in Lagos, often at the expense of other strategic ports such as Warri, Port Harcourt, Calabar, and Onne. If fully developed, these ports could enhance productivity, drive trade, create jobs, and open new economic corridors that would lift millions out of poverty across the federation.

    “Around the world, countries that have decentralised port development are reaping immense economic benefits. Vietnam operates over 300 ports — from Haiphong in the north to Da Nang in the centre and Ho Chi Minh City in the south — ensuring nationwide connectivity. Indonesia boasts about 111 commercial ports distributed across its territory to guarantee balanced access to trade. South Africa maintains eight major seaports — from Durban and Richards Bay on the Indian Ocean to Cape Town and Saldanha Bay on the Atlantic — reflecting a vision of maritime inclusion. Egypt runs about 15 commercial ports along both the Mediterranean and the Red Sea coasts; Morocco has about 14 ports open to international trade, including Casablanca, Tangier Med, and Agadir, distributed along its Atlantic and Mediterranean shorelines; and Algeria operates about 10 commercial ports spread across its extensive Mediterranean coast. Even Ghana, with only two major ports — Tema and Takoradi — ensured they are geographically decentralised on opposite ends of its coastline”.

    The post continues: “These nations have grasped a simple truth: no country seeking to maximise its blue economy concentrates all maritime activities in a single city.

    ” Decentralisation reduces congestion, improves logistics, enhances national security, and promotes balanced economic growth. In Nigeria, however, more than 70 per cent of port activities are still concentrated in Lagos, burdening the city with chronic congestion, high demurrage costs, environmental degradation, and delays that discourage investors and inflate the cost of goods nationwide. 

    “Developing other ports is, therefore, not merely an infrastructural necessity but a national imperative. Revitalising Warri, Port Harcourt, Calabar, and Onne would decongest Lagos, reduce shipping costs, attract investment, create employment, and stimulate regional economies.
    “As one who understands the critical link between infrastructure, trade, and national growth, I believe that a truly national blue economy must carry every region along. Beyond physical infrastructure, reform must also address corruption, reduce bureaucracy, and embrace technology to create a seamless, paperless port system that enhances turnaround time and global competitiveness. If prudently managed, the Lagos modernisation project could become a model for broader maritime transformation — a reference point from which similar development radiates across the nation.
    “Now more than ever, Nigeria must rebuild with fairness, guided by equity, integrity, and a clear vision to transform our nation from one of consumption to one of production and shared prosperity”. 

    Reacting to Obi’s claim, Akinola stated that while the ministry welcomes constructive dialogue on national development, it was important to correct the misleading impression created by Obi’s comments.

    He noted the Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Adegboyega Oyetola, has consistently stated at various fora that the Federal Government is modernising and upgrading the nation’s ports comprehensively and inclusively not concentrating efforts solely in Lagos. 

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    According to the statement, the Ministry has commenced the procurement process for the renovation and modernisation of the ports in Warri, Port Harcourt, Calabar, and Onne.
    He noted that the projects are being undertaken alongside the Lagos port modernisation initiative which forms part of a coordinated national strategy to revitalise and expand maritime infrastructure across all regions of the country.

    The statement reads in part: “In addition to these ongoing interventions, the ministry is working closely with the respective state governments and private investors to develop new deep seaports that will further strengthen the nation’s maritime capacity. These include the Agge Deep Seaport in Bayelsa State, the Ibom Deep Seaport in Akwa Ibom State, the Bonny Deep Seaport in Rivers State, and a deep seaport in Cross River State. Each of these projects reflects the Ministry’s commitment to balanced development and regional economic inclusion within the framework of the national blue economy.
    “Furthermore, the Onitsha River Port in Anambra State, developed by the National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA), an agency under the ministry, stands as a practical example of the federal government’s efforts to decentralise port operations and expand maritime access beyond Lagos. These initiatives demonstrate a deliberate and strategic approach to strengthening Nigeria’s port network, improving logistics efficiency, and stimulating industrial and commercial growth across the federation.
    “The Lagos ports modernisation project is a necessary intervention given the age and scale of trade handled through Apapa and TinCan Island. However, it is by no means the sole focus of the Federal Government’s maritime infrastructure drive. The Ministry’s ongoing efforts to upgrade, modernise, and expand other ports outside Lagos clearly affirm a nationwide commitment to developing the marine and blue economy in an equitable, sustainable, and forward-looking manner”.
    The statement continues: “The Federal Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy therefore wishes to state unequivocally that Mr Peter Obi’s claim suggesting neglect of ports outside Lagos is incorrect and misleading. The Federal Government’s policies and actions clearly demonstrate a balanced and inclusive approach to port development, guided by President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, which seeks to promote national food security, economic diversification, and regional prosperity through the full harnessing of Nigeria’s maritime potential.

    “The Ministry remains committed to transparent, accountable, and equitable maritime governance, and assures Nigerians that ongoing reforms will ensure every region of the country benefits from the opportunities inherent in the nation’s growing blue”. economy”.