A chieftain of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Senator Victor Umeh, has said supporters of the Labour Party presidential candidate in the 2023 election, Peter Obi, are not worried by speculations that former President Goodluck Jonathan may return to the presidential race in 2027.
Umeh said Jonathan’s rumoured ambition would not weaken Obi’s support base or affect his chances in the next general election.
The senator stated this during an interview on Trust TV’s Daily Politics programme.
Reacting to suggestions that Jonathan’s possible entry into the race could unsettle Obi’s camp, Umeh dismissed the claim, saying every major political figure had his own base.
According to him, Obi’s supporters remain committed and have continued to grow since the 2023 presidential election.
“We’re not concerned. Why should we be scared? We cannot be scared,” he said.
He added, “Every individual has his own base and followers. What Obi has now is sufficient to make the impact again in 2027 and win the election.”
Umeh said the former Anambra State governor had built a strong political movement that could not be easily displaced by the entrance of another aspirant.
The NDC chieftain said Obi had consulted Jonathan several times on his political plans before reports emerged that the former President might be considering a return to the race.
According to him, Jonathan never told Obi during those consultations that he had plans to contest the 2027 presidential election.
“Obi consulted him severally, not once. And he never told him he would be running for president,” Umeh said.
He, however, noted that Jonathan had the constitutional right to contest if he wished to do so.
Umeh maintained that even if the former President joined the race, it would not diminish Obi’s political strength.
“His supporters are not diminishing. They are multiplying,” he said.
Umeh also defended Obi’s promise to serve only one term if elected President in 2027.
He said a focused and serious leader would not need more than four years to set the country on a path of recovery, discipline and development.
“Four years will be enough for a very serious leader to reset the country, to give a new direction and put the country on the path of real progress and development,” he said.
The senator added that Nigerians were looking for a government that would keep its promises and restore confidence in public leadership.
“Nigerians today are eager to see a government that walks its talk. When they tell you they will do something, they will do it,” he added.
According to him, the country needs a leadership style built on trust, accountability and a clear sense of direction.
Speaking further, Umeh described Obi as one of the most prudent politicians he had worked with.
He said Obi’s record as governor of Anambra State showed that he could manage public resources responsibly.
Umeh described the former governor as “the most prudent and fiscally disciplined person” he had encountered in politics.
Defending Obi’s performance in Anambra, he said, “His best was good enough for the time allotted to him.”
The senator said Obi’s reputation for financial discipline remained one of the reasons many Nigerians still believed in his leadership capacity.
Senator Alleges Plot Against Labour Party
Umeh also spoke on the crisis in the Labour Party, alleging that some individuals within the party were working with forces linked to the ruling All Progressives Congress to weaken the opposition.
He said the internal instability in the Labour Party made it difficult for some members to continue operating within the platform.
“We even went to court up to the Supreme Court. INEC did not obey the judgment of the Supreme Court,” he said.
According to him, the group eventually moved into the NDC after losing confidence in the Labour Party’s internal stability.
The senator rejected claims that the NDC had become a one-man political platform centred around Obi.
He said the party had gained renewed strength with the entry of major political figures, including Obi and former Kano State governor, Rabiu Kwankwaso.
“There’s no doubt that the party got new lease of life with the entry of Peter Obi and Rabiu Kwankwaso,” Umeh said.
He added that the party was working to build a broader opposition platform ahead of the 2027 elections, stressing that the goal was to offer Nigerians a credible alternative.