By Oluwakemu Kindness
A member of the House of Representatives representing Abuja Municipal/Bwari Federal Constituency, Joshua Obika, says the crisis in the Labour Party and the political direction of Peter Obi influenced his movement across political parties.
Obika stated this on Tuesday amid criticism over his defection from the Labour Party to the All Progressives Congress (APC) and later to the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC).5
Speaking at a news briefing, Obika said the internal crisis in the Labour Party weakened the party’s structure and created uncertainty for members and supporters ahead of future elections.
He said he initially resisted leaving the Labour Party because of his loyalty to Obi, whom he described as his political leader, but reconsidered after Obi aligned with the NDC coalition.
Obika, however, expressed concerns about the coalition, alleging that many figures behind it were long-time political associates of former Vice President Atiku Abubakar.
“When we are preaching for a New Nigeria, we cannot use old wine to mix with new wine,” he said.
The lawmaker maintained that Obi and former Kano State governor Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso remain the politicians with the strongest organic support base for national transformation.
He explained that he temporarily joined the APC because the party appeared more stable while the Labour Party crisis lingered, but later moved to the NDC after Obi joined the coalition.
Defending his multiple defections, Obika said politicians sometimes move across parties to remain politically relevant.
“Even Peter Obi has crossed several parties. President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has also done same. What matters is identifying people who are committed to the betterment of the country,” he stated.
The federal lawmaker also highlighted some of his legislative and constituency projects, including bills seeking to establish an Original Inhabitants Resettlement and Compensation Agency, an FCT Scholarship Board, and an FCT Emergency Management Agency.
He added that his office had facilitated school renovations, scholarships, empowerment programmes, and rural road projects across the constituency.
Obika urged politicians to unite ahead of the 2027 elections, insisting that Nigerians were more interested in development than party labels.
