Peter Obi Not a Threat to APC — Edo Information Commissioner

Edo State Commissioner for Information and Communication, Paul Ohonbamu, has dismissed the 2023 Labour Party (LP) presidential candidate, Mr Peter Obi, as a non-threat to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), describing his political influence as exaggerated and lacking in structure.

Speaking during an interview on Channels Television’s Morning Brief on Monday, Ohonbamu said the APC remains unshaken by Obi’s political ambitions ahead of the 2027 general elections, asserting that the former Anambra State governor has neither a coherent strategy nor the political machinery necessary to challenge the ruling party.

“Peter Obi is the least of our worries. APC can’t be threatened because of Peter Obi. What is he going to do differently as Peter Obi?” Ohonbamu asked rhetorically.
“What will he even do when he becomes president? He will just tell you, ‘Let me get there first,’ with no clear blueprint of what he wants to do.”

Drawing a literary reference, Ohonbamu compared Obi’s political style to a character from Russian literature, suggesting that the Labour Party leader lacks decisiveness and depth in governance discourse.

He further questioned Obi’s grip on his home region, the South-East, pointing out that the Labour Party has minimal control in the zone.

“From where he is from, they only have a governor in Abia. APC has two governors in the region — Imo and Ebonyi. Enugu remains with the PDP, and Anambra is controlled by APGA. So where is Peter Obi’s dominance?” he stated.

Ohonbamu insisted that the Labour Party, and Obi by extension, lacks the structural depth needed to mount a serious national campaign, claiming that the movement is “struggling in error.”

“The truth is, you need more than social media and emotion to win a national election. APC is a deeply rooted party with the structure and capacity to win. Obi doesn’t pose a genuine threat to our national presence,” he concluded.

Peter Obi, who emerged as a popular third-force candidate in the 2023 presidential elections under the Labour Party, has continued to remain politically active and vocal on national issues.

While he enjoys a strong support base among youths and civil society, critics — like Ohonbamu — question the sustainability and scope of his political movement heading into 2027.