Former Labour Party presidential candidate Peter Obi has explained why he moves from one political party to another, saying internal crises and court cases usually force him to leave.
Mr Obi spoke on Thursday during a visit to the permanent site of University on the Niger, where he donated N25 million to the institution.
The former Anambra governor said he does not leave parties without reason and that his decisions are based on unresolved disputes within the parties.
“I have never left any party for leaving’s sake. I leave when I see conflict and unresolved crises,” he said.
“In one case, I was in the Labour Party and saw endless litigation. In ADC as well, I experienced similar issues. In most cases, I became the target, and I had to move.”
Obi recently left the African Democratic Congress (ADC) and joined the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC).
He said many political parties in Nigeria focus more on winning power than strengthening democratic systems within their structures.
The former presidential candidate called for better internal democracy and tolerance among party members.
Obi also said opposition parties play an important role in governance.
“Opposition is a critical part of government. If I were in government today, one of my key priorities would be to build a strong opposition, engage them, and take their constructive advice,” he said.
Speaking on elections, Obi said he would not spend money on political mobilisation or polling unit agents, insisting that Nigerians should protect their votes themselves.
“People expect me to save money to pay polling unit agents, but I will not do that. Nigerians should learn to protect their votes themselves. I am spending my money on education because I believe in the future of young people,” he said.
Addressing students during the visit, Peter Obi urged them to focus on education, saying it remains important for national development and social mobility.
“You may choose to go into business or politics, but your future depends on education. We want a country where the child of nobody can become somebody without knowing anybody,” he said.
He also criticised the country’s salary structure, saying political office holders often earn more than academics.
