Deputy National Chairman of the Labour Party, Ayo Olorunfemi, has advised Peter Obi to ignore calls urging him to leave the party ahead of the 2027 elections.

Speaking on Sunday in Lagos, Olorunfemi, who is also the Labour Party’s candidate for the 2024 Ondo governorship race, said Obi should focus on fixing and rebuilding the party instead of thinking about jumping ship.

In recent times, there have been growing calls for Obi to return to the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP. One of those voices, Segun Sowunmi, a former PDP governorship candidate in Ogun State, said in a TV interview that Obi’s return to the PDP would boost the party’s chances come 2027. Sowunmi also added that Obi’s rise to national fame started during his time with the PDP.

Olorunfemi, however, stressed that although Obi has the right to choose where he wants to belong, he should be cautious of what he called dangerous political moves.

He said, “Now that Obi has tested the Labour Party’s strength, if he leaves for another party, it would say a lot about his real motives. It would show whether he truly believed in the Labour Party’s ideals or if he only used the platform for his ambition. Nigerians will judge if he can still get their votes under another party.”

He urged Obi to focus on healing the Labour Party instead of abandoning it, adding that Obi and others contributed to the internal crisis and should now work to fix it.

Olorunfemi pointed out that in 2022, many aspirants in Labour Party stepped down to allow Obi emerge as the party’s presidential candidate. He also made it clear that even if Obi decides to leave, the Labour Party would remain a strong voice in opposition.