During an Arise News interview FROM 4:19, lawyer and political analyst Frank Tietie shared his perspective on Peter Obi’s move to leave the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) for the Labour Party, expressing doubt over the strategic value of the decision. Tietie acknowledged the impact of the Obidient movement but questioned whether it was the best choice for Obi’s political trajectory.
“Whether we like it or not, I have maintained that Peter Obi didn’t quite make the best decision when he left PDP,” Tietie stated. He suggested that despite the surge of support from the Obidient movement during the 2023 elections, which nearly formed a third force in Nigeria’s traditionally two-party system, Obi’s departure from PDP may not have been strategically sound.
Tietie emphasized that while the Obidients ran a strong and sometimes divisive campaign, national politics operates differently from state-level dynamics. “The dynamics of national politics is very different from the kind of politics we have in the state,” he remarked, indicating that the momentum at the state level might not translate as effectively on the national stage.
“Whether we like it or not, I have maintained that Peter Obi didn’t quite make the best of decision when he left PDP. It didn’t matter whether we have a massive movement called the Obidients that time that ran a very acerbic Campaign that almost created a third force in a supposed permanent two party system that we have had. The dynamics of National politics is very different from the kind of politics we have in the State” He said….Çheck–Móre