African Democratic Congress (ADC) leaders are reportedly making moves to stop the planned defection of former presidential candidates, Peter Obi and Rabiu Kwankwaso, from the opposition coalition party.
NewsWatch Nigeria reports that there have been speculations that Peter Obi and Kwankwaso are seriously considering leaving the ADC for the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) next week in pursuit of their quest to contest the 2027 presidential election on a joint ticket.
Recall that former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar, Peter Obi and ex-Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi, have publicly spoken about being interested in the ADC 2027 presidential ticket.
Nonetheless, Peter Obi’s supporters, the ‘Obidient Movement’ and Kwankwasiyya Movement, are pushing for the (Obi-Kwankwaso) Movement, indicating the likelihood of a collaboration between the two politicians in the run-up to the ADC primaries.
However, following recent developments within the ADC, Peter Obi and Kwankwaso are planning to defect from the ADC to the NDC, and their discussion has reached an advanced stage.
Confirming Peter Obi and Kwankwaso’s defection move from the coalition, a leader of the ADC, in an interview with the Sun, said party leaders are working around the clock to ensure the duo do not leave the party.
The ADC chieftain expressed optimism that the grievances of the two political figures concerning the coalition would eventually be resolved.
He said, “There are internal moves to resolve the matter. A lot of work is going on. We hope that by the time they are done, it will be resolved. “
However, the ADC National Publicity Secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi, speaking with the aforementioned publication, said the planned defection of Peter Obi and Kwankwaso were still speculative.
While confirming that party leaders were actually reaching out to the former presidential candidates, Abdullahi said it was not to prevent the duo from dumping the coalition but to know their actual positions on the issue.
He said, “For us, it is still at the realm of speculation. We have not seen any official announcement to that effect. When that happens we will respond accordingly.
“It is not to prevent them from moving out, but to understand what their real position is beyond what is in the rumour mill. So, party leaders and critical stakeholders are reaching out to them to know what exactly their positions are. It depends on what they say. But it will be within their right to do so.”
Similarly, the founding National Chairman of the ADC, Okey Nwosu, expressed confidence in the party leadership to resolve all issues concerning the presidential nomination, adding that measures had been put in place to ensure a transparent nomination exercise.
He stated, “The National chairman and the current leaders are very experienced and patriotic Nigerians and they are going to be able to deal with it. But one thing that was clear from the beginning is that the party agreed that if we are not able to reach a consensus, we are going to do a very transparent primary.”
