Governor Godwin Obaseki of Edo State has said the odds are not in favour of Nigeria’s main political parties, All Progressives Congress (APC) and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), ahead of the 2023 elections. 

Mr Obaseki, during a meeting of PDP members in Benin on Monday, said the teeming population of young people across the country could look beyond the mega parties and align themselves with the candidate of the Labour Party and former governor of Anambra, Peter Obi. 

‪”The future of our politics in this country is changing. I don’t know whether you’ve observed. The level of disenchantment with the ruling parties. I’m sure in all our homes here, we have so many people now who call themselves “Obidients.” 

“I don’t know if you have them in your house. Just ask them which party are you? They’ll say “Obidient.” They don’t want us. They are not talking about APC or PDP. They are looking for alternatives,” Mr Obaseki said. 

Mr Obaseki was attending a meeting to address the internal crisis of the PDP in Edo, using the groundswell of support Mr Obi has been getting as a cautionary tale. 

“And you see them, they are much much more. You see all of them queuing for their PVCs. ‪If we don’t curb this and if we don’t make our party attractive, I don’t know what will happen in the next election,” he added. 

Mr Obi picked up the presidential nomination of the Labour Party on May 30. Despite strong indications that his party might not be able to sweep the presidential elections holding nine months away, Mr Obi’s supporters have maintained a strong spirit of his chances at the poll. Merger talks have also reportedly commenced between Labour leaders and the New Nigeria Peoples Party backed by Kano politician Rabiu Kwankwaso.