Nigeria will hold its seventh consecutive democratic election since its return to democracy in February 2023. And amongst the leading candidates taking part in the February 2023 presidential election in Nigeria is Mr. Peter Obi of the Labour Party.
Peter Obi’s counterparts, including Asiwaju Bola Tinubu of the All-Progressive Congress (APC) and Alhaji Atiku Abubakar of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) are candidates of well-known political parties which have a recent history of election victories. While PDP has ruled from (1999 – 2015), APC has continued from (2015 – till date).
However, the two-time governor of Anambra State has built a formidable army of “OBIdients” behind him and has a high chance of victory according to recent polls.
Previously referred to as a “mere group of online users” the OBIdient movement has metamorphosed into a mega crusade with many volunteers from different tribes, age groups, and geographic location in the country. The group rests majorly on the involvement of many youths triggered by genuine concerns for the fate of the nation; facing one of the worst economic and security crises in its history.
What victory means for Labour Party, Peter Obi and the OBIdient movement
The presidential candidate of the Labour Party and flag bearer of the third force movement, Peter Obi and his faithfuls, OBIdients, are looking to break the cycle of a two-party presidential race of APC and PDP. Victory would mean that voters can overturn the dominance of reigning parties in the country without belonging to one; a remarkable feat that no underdog party has pulled off in Nigeria’s electoral history.
- The Labour Party, which currently has 2/360 seats in the house and 1/109 seats in the senate, zero governor members and zero seats in states house of assembly could become Nigeria’s ruling party after recording only one election success in its twenty years of existence.