By Charles Pemu 
In a bold and candid address, former Anambra State Governor Peter Obi has blamed the federal government for the wave of internal crises rocking Nigeria’s major opposition parties, including the Labour Party (LP) and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
Speaking during an interactive session with young Nigerians, a video of which has since gone viral on social media. Obi alleged that the ruling establishment is actively destabilizing opposition parties to weaken Nigeria’s democratic space ahead of the 2027 general elections.
“What is happening in the Labour Party and the PDP is caused by the government. Quote me anywhere,” Obi declared. “These are deliberate efforts to destroy opposition voices. This is part of what I want to fix, if given the opportunity.”
The former presidential candidate also laid to rest speculation that he was considering joining a proposed new political coalition involving former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, ex-Kaduna Governor Nasir El-Rufai, and others.
“I will continue to run in the Labour Party. I am a member of the Labour Party,” Obi affirmed, quelling rumours of defection.
Reflecting on his past experience, Obi recalled that during the administration of the late President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua, political crises were swiftly addressed through decisive leadership. He lamented the absence of such interventions today, accusing those in power of using conflict as a tool to silence opposition parties.
Beyond politics, Obi issued a passionate call to Nigerian youths to take ownership of the democratic process by actively defending their votes during elections.
“It’s not enough to have party agents. The voters themselves must protect their votes and ensure their choices count,” he urged.
Obi also proposed reforms to refresh the political landscape, including the idea of setting a retirement age for politicians, a move he believes would inject new energy and innovation into leadership.
“It’s time we reconsider who should be leading us. We can’t keep recycling the same ideas and expect different results,” he said.
As Nigeria approaches another pivotal election cycle, Obi’s remarks reignite conversations around democratic accountability, generational leadership, and the future of opposition politics in the country.