“He Ran Away Because He Could Not Solve Problems” — Wike Mocks Obi Over Labour Party Exit

The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has criticised former Labour Party presidential candidate Peter Obi over his departure from the party, describing it as a failure of leadership.

Wike made the remarks on Sunday at the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) 2026 National Convention held at the Moshood Abiola National Stadium.

Addressing party delegates, the minister said political leadership requires resilience and the ability to manage internal disputes. He argued that Obi did not demonstrate these qualities during the internal crisis that affected the Labour Party.

According to Wike, Obi left the party at a time when leadership was needed to stabilise it. He compared the move to recent defections by some PDP governors, suggesting both actions reflected an inability to confront political challenges.

Obi contested the 2023 presidential election under the Labour Party, where he placed third behind Bola Tinubu of the All Progressives Congress. He later defected to the African Democratic Congress in 2025.

His switch came amid the formation of a coalition platform positioning itself to challenge the ruling party in the 2027 general elections. The emerging alliance includes figures such as Atiku Abubakar, Nasir El-Rufai, and Rotimi Amaechi.