Valentine Ozigbo, days after leaving the Labour Party (LP) for the All Progressives Congress (APC), expressed hope that Peter Obi, the former presidential candidate of the LP, would eventually join him in the ruling party. Obi had contested the 2023 presidential election, marking his first attempt at the presidency, where he notably challenged the dominance of both the ruling APC and the main opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). Despite LP’s surprising performance in the election, the party has been plagued by internal strife, leading to allegations and counter-allegations that have prompted several members to defect.

Ozigbo is the latest to leave the Labour Party, citing its ongoing crises as the main reason for his decision. In an interview on Channels TV’s Politics Today on February 27, 2025, he explained that he had consulted with relevant party stakeholders before making his move. When asked if he had informed Peter Obi about his decision to join the APC, Ozigbo confirmed that he had, expressing a desire to see the former Governor of Anambra State in the ruling party one day.

Ozigbo shared that he had a conversation with Obi where he conveyed his decision to leave the LP, noting that he no longer saw himself running for the party in upcoming elections. He stated that after informing Obi, he immediately moved to the APC the following day. Ozigbo also revealed that he had visited the LP to personally say goodbye, criticizing the party’s internal dysfunction and labeling the congress held in Anambra as a “charade.” He concluded by asserting that the Labour Party’s situation had worsened to the point of being worse than both the PDP and APC combined.