Obi: All Anambra guber hopefuls are my friends — but I’m supporting LP candidate

Peter Obi, former presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP), has implored the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to ensure Saturday’s Anambra governorship election is free, fair, and credible.

The former Anambra governor made the appeal on Wednesday while speaking with journalists after visiting the College of Nursing, Adazi Nnukwu, in Anaocha LGA of the state.

Obi cautioned against vote-buying or any form of malpractice that could undermine the credibility of the poll.

He described all the candidates in the election as his friends but reaffirmed his loyalty to George Moghalu, his party’s flagbearer.

“All those involved in the exercise, in one way or another, are my friends. I have respect for all of them,” NAN quoted Obi as saying.

“But as a member of the Labour Party, I’m supporting my party’s candidate, though not to the extent of vote buying or any other malpractice.

“Let everyone vote according to their conscience. All I want is a free, fair, and credible election.”

The former governor also spoke on the ongoing debate over state creation, describing it as “unnecessary”.

He said Nigeria’s challenge is not the number of states it has but the need to make existing structures work effectively.

“Creation of states is not our problem. We need to make Nigeria work first, not keep creating more states, ministries, and other structures,” he said.

Obi said he has devoted his life to helping people and advancing humanity through education and health initiatives.

“I believe life must have a purpose, and mine is to support people and uplift humanity. I go around Nigeria supporting schools because education and health are critical,” he said.

“The key measure of development globally is life expectancy and Nigeria’s is just 54, among the lowest in the world.

“We must invest in health and nurses are the human capital for that investment.”