Why do APC, PDP Keep Antagonizing Peter Obi If He’s Inconsequential ?

It is general knowledge the the 3rd force brought on by Peter Obi, the candidate of the Labour Party cannot be wished away as players in the 2 biggest political parties of APC and PDP hardly hold a discussion without antagonizing him.

In his television interview on Friday, the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Atiku Abubakar, has been criticized for saying that Peter Obi, will not win the 2023 presidential election.

Speaking in an interview with Arise TV, Atiku, stated that Peter Obi did not inform him before leaving the PDP and that the Labour Party’s candidate is only popular on social media.

Atiku added that he is not expecting the LP to pull off a surprise in 2023 because it has no structure and nationwide appeal. He said that the party does not have Governors, members of the National Assembly, and State Assemblies.

The former vice president asserted that the party would not divide the votes meant for the PDP in some regions, as suggested by some political analysts.

Reacting, the Labour Party’s acting National Publicity Secretary, Arabambi Abayomi, said on Friday that Atiku was restless over Obi’s growing popularity.

According to him, the former VP’s comments against Obi showed that the ex-Anambra State governor posed a threat to the PDP candidate’s presidential ambition.

He said the constant attack on Peter Obi shows he had become a threat to the APC and the PDP.

“All that the presidential candidate of the PDP and its candidate talk about now are Obi and the Labour Party because Nigeria’s structure has changed for the Labour Party,” Abayomi told The PUNCH.

“I say so because, for the first time in history, we have the NLC and the TUC declaring that workers are members of the Labour Party. Our popularity has sent shivers down their spine; they are not only jittery; they are also confused.

Peter Obi’s spokesperson, Valentine Obienyem, said Obi would win next year’s election, adding that his support goes beyond just social media.

“Things are not working well in Nigeria today. We have acute hunger in the land. Is it social media generated? We have many things going wrong in Nigeria, not because of social media

“If it is not because of social media, you cannot say that it’s only those in social media that feel the impact. So, whether you’re on social media, in villages, and wherever you are in Nigeria today, we are having the impact of hard times.

“Whether they’re in social media or not does not really affect the vote. I can tell you that 80 percent of Nigerians believe that it is Peter Obi that will solve all these problems. So, his followership is not social media generated, but a product of the dysfunction that we have in the society today. Followers of Obi go beyond social media,” he added.