Valentine Ozigbo, a prominent All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship aspirant in Anambra State, has raised concerns over the internal health of the Labour Party (LP), describing it as a party in decline with little future viability.
Speaking during a televised interview, Ozigbo, who recently defected from the LP to the APC, alleged that many Labour Party officeholders are already making plans to jump ship ahead of the next election cycle.
“Labour Party is not exactly what people believe it to be,” Ozigbo stated. “It is gradually fading out, and with time, Nigerians will begin to witness a wave of defections.”
According to him, most of the LP politicians he has interacted with have no intention of seeking re-election on the same platform, adding that the internal structure of the party is too fragile to sustain long-term political ambitions.
He explained that his departure from the LP was a calculated decision based on a realistic assessment of Nigeria’s political parties. “You need to do your checks and make certain decisions for the sake of posterity,” he said.
Ozigbo dismissed insinuations that he joined the APC for personal gain, insisting that his intention is to contribute to national transformation from within a more viable political structure.
“I didn’t join APC to endorse all its actions. I joined as a reformer,” he said. “If this is the platform available to bring about meaningful change, then good people must get involved.”
The former LP chieftain noted that his switch to the APC drew significant attention because of his political relevance. “When I moved, it became the trending issue of the day,” he said. “Some claimed I joined without supporters, but that’s laughable. I came with value, and people noticed.”
Ozigbo also touched on speculations that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu may be backing Anambra Governor Charles Soludo’s return bid under APGA to counter Labour’s influence in the state. He dismissed the alleged plan as “an inferior proposition,” suggesting that Soludo may be trying to weaken the APC from within by maintaining dual political loyalties.
“Soludo must have gone to people to argue that APC is weak and his real opponent is Labour, hence the need to support him in APGA,” Ozigbo said. “But that creates a conflict – you can’t be in APGA during the day and in APC at night.”
He continued, “If you want to be in APGA, be in APGA. That party is in the past. If you want to be in APC, commit to it. Political ambiguity only weakens the system.”
Ozigbo’s defection comes amid growing speculation about the future of opposition parties ahead of the 2025 gubernatorial elections in Anambra State, with observers watching closely for further shake-ups within LP ranks.
