Peter Obi, the Labour Party’s 2023 presidential candidate, has dismissed concerns that Nigeria is sliding into a one-party state, asserting that the defection of a governor does not equate to a political party “capturing” their region.

Obi was reacting to the recent defections of Enugu State Governor Peter Mbah and Bayelsa State Governor Douye Diri from the opposition to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).

The former Anambra State governor argued that the notion of political “capture” is a relic of Nigeria’s military past and is incompatible with democracy.

“The people will decide where to go, not governors or senators. No party will capture or win any state just because it has a governor,” Obi stated.

He described Governor Mbah as a personal friend but emphasized that a governor’s defection is a personal political decision.

Dismissing specific fears about the South-East being politically dominated, Obi insisted that democratic leadership relies on persuasion and performance, not coercion.

“As for the alleged plot to capture the South-East, we are not in a military time when you capture people,” he said. “You are a leader. You tend to do the right things for them to follow you. So I don’t think anybody is capturing anywhere.”

Obi urged public officials to prioritize good governance and policies that tangibly improve citizens’ lives, warning that political realignments alone cannot guarantee public loyalty.

“The government needs to do more if it wants the people to support it,” he added.

His comments come amid heightened political tension, with a wave of defections to the APC sparking fears of one-party dominance ahead of the 2027 general elections.