The spokesperson of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Bolaji Abdullahi, has said that Peter Obi and Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso did not exit the party abruptly, but had carefully planned their departure in advance.
Speaking in an interview on Monday, Abdullahi described the ADC as a party with a defined structure and clear direction, while accusing some politicians of using the platform to advance personal ambitions.
“Everything that the government has thrown at the ADC, we have resisted. We have fought back and remained committed to our goal of rescuing Nigerians from the failure of this government,” he said.
He also questioned Obi’s decision to leave, referencing a previous remark by the former presidential candidate.
“We have been fighting for democracy within a party that has given us the best chance to serve the Nigerian people. Even Peter Obi once said at a coalition meeting that if we present two candidates against Bola Ahmed Tinubu, we would be handing him victory in 2027. So, what has changed?”
Abdullahi dismissed claims that legal battles forced their exit, stating that the party is only handling minor court cases that do not justify such a move.
He further noted that Obi was accorded significant privileges within the party, including the opportunity to nominate the National Organising Secretary, a position he described as central to party operations.
“None of the aspirants or leaders was given as much consideration as Peter Obi. The office of the National Organising Secretary is the engine room of the party. It handles congresses, elections, and core operations. That office is occupied by his nominee,” he said.
Addressing allegations of internal bias, Abdullahi maintained that Obi never raised concerns about unfair treatment during his time in the ADC.
“We met with Peter Obi consistently. He attended coalition meetings regularly. He made it clear he would only join if the ticket was zoned. He took nearly a year to join the ADC and never complained about bias within the party, because there was none,” he added.
Using a metaphor, Abdullahi likened the situation to someone giving reasons to leave a relationship.
“When a woman wants to leave a marriage, she gives all kinds of reasons, including being suffocated by too much love. That is what we are seeing now.”
He stressed that while politicians are free to align with any party, they should avoid offering weak justifications for their decisions.
Abdullahi also suggested that the move may have been premeditated, pointing to a meeting in Kano involving Obi, Kwankwaso, and Seriake Dickson.
“After that meeting in Kano, I reached out to Governor Dickson and asked what had transpired. Kwankwaso had been considering joining the ADC, and suddenly, things changed. It raised questions about whether there were efforts to divide the opposition and create an advantage for the incumbent,” he said.
He concluded that recent developments indicate both Obi and Kwankwaso had likely made their decisions before formally leaving the party.