Presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress, NDC, Peter Obi, has criticised Nigeria’s political system, alleging that politicians facing corruption accusations often appear to be cleared once they defect to the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC.
Obi made the remarks during an interview on Channels Television’s Politics Today, where he also argued that political parties in Nigeria lack clear ideological foundations.
According to the former Anambra State governor, the country’s politics is driven more by personal interests than by principles.
“For me, there is no political party in Nigeria Today that has an ideology. There is none. Otherwise, the ideology of the APC would be that if you are corrupt and you move to the APC, you are no longer corrupt,” he said.
Obi maintained that Nigeria needs competent, committed and compassionate leaders with integrity rather than politicians who switch parties for personal gain.
He also accused the ruling party of weakening opposition parties, alleging that the crises affecting the African Democratic Congress, ADC, the Nigeria Democratic Congress, NDC, and previously the Labour Party, LP, were deliberate.
“The president said it, and it is happening. When opposition parties are having problems, that is his wish. Because of it, they are destroying the judiciary,” Obi alleged.
The former governor said that if elected president, he would protect opposition parties and ensure they operate freely without interference from the government or regulatory agencies.
Obi also dismissed claims that endorsements from state governors would automatically secure victory for President Bola Tinubu in the 2027 presidential election, insisting that governors do not always represent the views of the people in their states.
