APC Denies ‘Capturing’ South-East, Fires Back at Peter Obi

The Lagos State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has dismissed claims by former Labour Party presidential candidate, Peter Obi, that the ruling party is attempting to “capture” the South-East through ongoing political defections.

Reacting to Obi’s statement, the party described his remarks as “illogical,” accusing him of political inconsistency and opportunism.

In a statement on Thursday, APC Lagos spokesperson Seye Oladejo said: “This is the man who moved from APGA to PDP, then to the Labour Party, and who, according to credible sources within his dwindling camp, is already seeking yet another platform ahead of 2027. Suddenly, the serial defector claims selective amnesia when commenting on others’ political decisions. If there were a trophy for political cross-carpeting, Obi would be its unchallenged winner.”

Oladejo added that the APC was not “capturing” the South-East but that the region was voluntarily embracing the party’s national vision.

“The growing acceptance of the APC in the South-East reflects a new political reality where Nigerians are choosing unity and development over sentiment. The region is aligning with the national mainstream because citizens are rejecting emotional blackmail, divisive rhetoric, and politics of victimhood. The people of the South-East deserve inclusion, infrastructure, and investment—not empty crusades and sentimental activism,” he said.

He further stressed: “Power is not served à la carte. It is earned through structure, consistency, and bridge-building across the federation—all qualities Obi sorely lacks. His politics of isolation may have excited social media in the past, but today, Nigeria demands substance, not sympathy.”

Earlier, Obi told reporters in Abuja that no political party could “capture” any state, saying: “We are not in a military time when you capture people. 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.” He added that ultimately, it was the people, not politicians, who would decide which party to support.