A member of the House of Representatives representing Abuja Municipal/Bwari Federal Constituency, Hon. Joshua Chinedu Obika, has defended his movement across political parties.
The lawmaker insisted that his decisions were driven by political realities and loyalty to the “New Nigeria” movement championed by former Labour Party presidential candidate, Peter Obi.
Obika dumped the Labour Party (LP) for the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in March and moved to the Nigeria Democratic Congress, (NDC) earlier this month(May).
Addressing parliamentary reporters amid criticism over his frequent change of platforms, the lawmaker said Nigerians should focus more on elected officials’ performance rather than party affiliation.
Obika said the internal crisis that engulfed the Labour Party weakened the party’s structure and affected its ability to function effectively, citing the failure of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, to upload some candidates during Area Council elections.
According to him, the situation created uncertainty for many members and supporters who feared the party could no longer provide a viable political platform ahead of future elections.
He explained that he initially resisted leaving the Labour Party out of loyalty to Obi, whom he described as his political leader, adding that he only considered leaving when it became obvious that the former Anambra State governor had aligned with the ADC coalition.
The lawmaker, however, expressed reservations about the ADC arrangement at the time, alleging that many of those behind the coalition were long-time political associates of former Vice President Atiku Abubakar.
Obika argued that many supporters feared Obi might eventually fail to secure the party’s presidential ticket, a development he said could create division among supporters and jeopardize the political future of candidates contesting under the platform.
“When we are preaching for a New Nigeria, we cannot use old wine to mix with new wine,” the Abuja North lawmaker said.
He maintained that Obi and former Kano State governor Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso remain the two politicians with the strongest organic support base committed to national transformation, stressing that both men needed to work together for Nigeria’s progress.
Obika disclosed that he temporarily joined the APC because the party appeared stable while the Labour Party crisis lingered, but later moved to the ADC after Obi eventually joined the coalition.
Defending his multiple defections, the lawmaker said politicians must sometimes move across parties to remain politically relevant and pursue their objectives.
“Even Peter Obi has crossed several parties. President Bola Tinubu has also done same. What matters is identifying people who are committed to the betterment of the country,” he stated.
The federal lawmaker accused political opponents of sponsoring attacks against him to damage his reputation ahead of future elections, insisting that the real issue should be his record in office.
Highlighting his achievements in the National Assembly, Obika listed several bills he said were aimed at addressing long-standing challenges in the Federal Capital Territory, FCT.
The legislations include bills seeking to establish an Original Inhabitants Resettlement and Compensation Agency, an FCT Scholarship Board, an FCT School of Nursing and Midwifery, and an FCT Emergency Management Agency.
He said the proposed compensation agency was designed to tackle issues surrounding demolitions, resettlement and compensation of indigenous communities displaced by development in the FCT.
The lawmaker also said his proposed scholarship board bill sought to ensure transparency and accountability in the management of scholarship funds while reserving 30 per cent of scholarships for original inhabitants of the FCT.
On constituency projects, Obika said his office had facilitated the construction and renovation of schools, restoration of boreholes in public schools, distribution of educational materials, and scholarships for students within and outside the constituency.
