Setback for Peter Obi as Labour Party Governorship Candidate Collapses Structure into APC in Northern State

• Bashir Ishaq Bashir, the governorship candidate of the Labour Party in Kano state, has officially left the party for the ruling APC
• Bashir announced that the Labour Party structure in the northwestern state has collapsed into the APC following his defection
• The former Labour Party flagbearer also announced the setup of a support group whose mandate is to work for the victory of the presidential candidate, Bola Tinubu

Kano - The governorship of the Labour Party (LP) in Kano state, Bashir Ishaq Bashir, has officially resigned from the party and moved to the All Progressives Congress (APC) ahead of the 2023 general elections.

A report by The Nation stated that Bashir has withdrawn his support for Peter Obi, LP presidential candidate, and declared support for Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu of the APC.

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Labour Party structure in Kano collapsed into APC - Bashir

Announcing his defection, Bashir said he and his political allies have decided to return to the APC fold.

He also announced the decision made at his group's meeting.

“The following decisions were made: That as a coalition of Labour Party (LP) Gubernatorial, Senatorial and House of Representatives, House of Assembly Candidates, Chairman and Members of the Presidential Campaign Council, Members of the Gubernatorial Campaign Council, and Zonal and State Coordinators we have decided to endorse the candidature of Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

“We have also resolved to leverage our existing political structures to work on the mass mobilisation of voters and swinging of votes to ensure his (Tinubu’s) emergence as the president of the federal republic of Nigeria in the 2023 presidential election.

“We shall be known as Game Changers for Asiwaju/Shettima 2023. Our slogan is “Sabon Lale”…Swinging the Votes. We shall return to the fold of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Party," he said.

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Nigerians react

Austin M. Onuoha commented on Facebook:

"It's not setback for Peter Obi, it's victory for the Obidients, because the moles planted in the party by the opponents are leaving one by one. Nigerians are not ready for affliction the second time, and so, are rooting for His Excellency Peter Obi."

Oruruo Daniel said:

"He is not part of the new Nigeria, that's why God is taking them away one by one and besides, he only has one vote."

Joe Nwokeka said:

"This labour gubernatorial candidate has buried his political carrier, people will see him as a sell out from now."

Olanrewaju Larry Adeleke said:

"Collapse or not, Obi can't win in Kano. He should concentrate on South East, South South, 2/3 of all South West States including Lagos, 2/3 of all North Central including Abuja, come second in all North East states and probably come 3rd in all North West states. That can give him a clear win without a rerun."

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Aleke Franklyn Afamefuna said:

"He has denied himself the privilege to be part of the new Nigeria."

Kano Labour Party guber candidate meet Tinubu

Earlier, Legit.ng reported that Bashir met with Tinubu on Sunday evening, February 12.

Sources said that the meeting was held in Abuja and discussions around defection were the main agenda.

Recall that the LP governorship candidate had in January staged a boycott of the party’s presidential rally held in Kano, alongside the chairman of the Presidential Campaign Council, Mohammed Zarewa; the state coordinator of Peter Obi’s campaign, Balarabe Wakili, and a member of the presidential campaign council, Idris Dambazau.

Source: Legit.ng