Daniel Bwala, former spokesperson for the Atiku/Okowa Presidential Campaign Organisation, recently made claims of an alleged plot by Peter Obi, the presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP) in the 2023 Presidential Election, to defect to the Social Democratic Party (SDP) and join forces with former Kaduna Governor, Nasir El-Rufai.
Bwala alleged that Obi was considering leaving the LP due to the ongoing conflict between the party leadership and the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC).
He suggested that the NLC’s intention to assert ownership of the LP was prompting Obi’s potential move to the SDP.
In response to these allegations, Dr. Yunusa Tanko, Chief Spokesman for the Obi/Datti Presidential Campaign, dismissed Bwala’s claims as baseless. Tanko emphasized that Bwala’s assertions were simply “a figment of his imagination” and stated that Obi had no intention of leaving the Labour Party.
Tanko reiterated that Obi’s commitment to the LP remained unwavering, despite rumors suggesting otherwise. He described Bwala as a politician seeking relevance and emphasized that Obi’s position within the party had not changed.
Meanwhile, recent sightings of Nasir El-Rufai at the national secretariat of the SDP in Abuja fueled speculation about his political intentions. El-Rufai’s visit to the SDP’s national chairman, Alhaji Shehu Gabam, sparked rumors of a potential alliance between the former Kaduna State Governor and the SDP.
El-Rufai’s appearance at the SDP headquarters comes amidst speculation following the Senate’s refusal to confirm his ministerial nomination in 2023. The Senate cited adverse security reports as the reason for declining to confirm El-Rufai’s appointment, along with that of another ministerial nominee from Taraba State, Senator Abubakar Danladi.
As the political landscape continues to evolve, these developments have heightened anticipation and speculation regarding potential realignments and alliances among prominent political figures in Nigeria.