2027: LP, Obi lack capacity to challenge Nigeria’s political establishment- Sowore
A former presidential candidate of the African Action Congress (AAC), Omoyele Sowore, has criticised the Labour Party and its 2023 flagbearer, Peter Obi, describing them as a “short rental” arrangement that lacks the capacity to challenge Nigeria’s political status quo.
Sowore made the remarks on Sunday while appearing as a guest on Inside Sources on Channels Television.
“But in terms of real opposition. I don’t know why anybody refers to Peter Obi as an opposition. He is not opposed to anything the government is doing. He didn’t organise his supporters to fight for the election victory he claimed.He said nothing when fuel prices were increased. He hasn’t done anything that an opposition figure typically does,” he stated.
Sowore dismissed suggestions that Obi remains the most visible face of the opposition ahead of the 2027 general elections, and reiterated his longstanding doubts about the political intent and impact of the former Anambra State governor.
“My position in 2022 and 2023 is what is unfolding now — that contrary to the impression created that Peter Obi was opposed to the system and capable of challenging it, he is, in fact, incapable of doing so.I also said at the time that the Labour Party was a short rental — what they call Airbnb in America. You move in; you check out when your time expires. When they are done with Peter Obi, they’ll move the rental to someone else. Maybe Obi doesn’t want to move out now, rightly or wrongly, or maybe he’s staying for show,” Sowore stated
Sowore further argued that Obi’s prominence in 2023 was largely the result of religious sentiment sparked by the APC’s Muslim-Muslim ticket.
“There was this whole debate around the Muslim-Muslim ticket, so Christians responded by saying, ‘If you want to Islamise Nigeria, we’ll Christianise it too’. And who was the most available Christian candidate? Peter Obi.
The former presidential candidate argued that real opposition required mobilisation, resistance, and street action — all of which he claimed Obi had avoided.
