KEY POINTS

• Senate President Godswill Akpabio criticized Peter Obi, urging him to resolve internal Labour Party conflicts before aspiring to lead Nigeria.

• Akpabio compared Obi unfavorably to late elder statesman Edwin Clark, while touting his own achievements in governance and religious diplomacy.

• The remarks come amid ongoing tensions and power struggles within the Labour Party, raising concerns about the party’s viability ahead of the 2027 elections.

In a pointed critique delivered during Senate plenary on Thursday, Senate President Godswill Akpabio lashed out at former presidential candidate Peter Obi, urging him to address the internal crisis within the Labour Party before positioning himself as a credible contender to lead Nigeria.

Akpabio’s remarks, made on the floor of the Senate, reflect escalating political tension as the country edges closer to the 2027 general elections.

In his speech, Akpabio questioned Obi’s leadership credentials, suggesting that his inability to manage disputes within his relatively young party casts doubt on his capacity to address Nigeria’s broader challenges.

“Let our brother, Peter Obi, show leadership like Edwin Clark did, by resolving first the crisis in the Labour Party,” Akpabio said. “For a man who wants to run Nigeria, you have one of the smallest parties in Nigeria, and you cannot even resolve the crisis in that Labour Party. Is it the crisis of Boko Haram that you will come and resolve in Nigeria?”

The Labour Party has faced internal upheavals since the 2023 elections, with factional divisions emerging over party control, finance management, and ideological direction. These tensions have played out publicly, weakening the party’s image and fueling questions about its organizational stability.

Akpabio boasts of his own achievements

During his speech, Akpabio contrasted Obi’s leadership with his own record as a former governor of Akwa Ibom State.

He highlighted a series of infrastructure projects and social initiatives he implemented while in office, portraying himself as a model of effective governance.

“As I speak now, I can tell you about the dualised thoroughfares in my state,” he said. “I can tell you about the flyovers in my state. I can tell you about the best international hospital in my state.”

He also spoke of his religious diplomacy initiatives, stating: “I brought unity in religion by sponsoring over 5,000 religious events, taking 800 Muslims to the Holy Land and over 12,000 to 15,000 Christians to Rome and Jerusalem.”

SaharaReproters noted that Akpabio used these accomplishments to underscore what he viewed as the qualities necessary for national leadership.

He expressed concern over how some political figures, without directly naming Obi again, use social media to promote division rather than demonstrating leadership on key issues like national security, economic development, and institutional reform.

“Those who are aspiring presidential candidates and trying to cause division with their mouths, using social media, tell them to resolve the small crisis in the smallest party they have in Nigeria first, before they come to talk about the larger Nigeria,” he added.

He concluded his remarks with a nod to the late elder statesman Edwin Clark, calling on Nigerian leaders to emulate Clark’s values. “I am saying this because this is what Pa Edwin Clark would have advised if he were alive,” Akpabio said. “So I have started to speak his voice. May his soul rest in perfect peace.”

Peter Obi has not yet responded publicly to Akpabio’s comments, but his supporters have frequently defended him against criticisms from political rivals, pointing to his growing popularity among younger voters, especially in urban areas, and his perceived integrity in contrast to traditional political elites.

Political analysts view Akpabio’s remarks as an attempt to reframe the leadership narrative ahead of the 2027 elections, potentially positioning himself or his allies as more competent stewards of Nigeria’s complex governance needs.

The Labour Party, which surged in popularity during the 2023 general elections under Obi’s leadership, has struggled to maintain internal cohesion. If these issues persist, political observers warn, they could undermine the party’s chances of mounting a serious challenge in future polls.