The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has admitted that the exit of former Anambra State Governor, Peter Obi, and former Kano State Governor, Rabiu Kwankwaso, from its platform is a setback.
The party, however, insisted that the development would not derail its 2027 electoral plans.
Speaking on Monday night during an appearance on Arise News’ Prime Time, the ADC National Publicity Secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi, described the exit of the two politicians as disappointing but not devastating.
Obi, the 2023 Labour Party (LP) presidential candidate, and Kwankwaso, who contested the same election on the platform of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP), had earlier aligned with the ADC as part of efforts to build a united opposition front ahead of 2027.
They later moved to the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), where they called for an end to litigation-driven politics.
Reacting to their departure, Abdullahi said the ADC remained focused on its objectives.
He said, “Is it a setback? The answer is yes. Is it a fatal blow? The answer is no, because the objectives are very clear. They are still the same.”
Asked whether losing two opposition figures who collectively secured more than seven million votes in the 2023 presidential election had weakened the party, Abdullahi said previous election figures did not automatically guarantee future political success.
The ADC spokesman admitted that he was personally unhappy about the exit of Obi and Kwankwaso.
He said, “Personally, I’m not happy they left. And I cannot tell you why, because I have my own sentiments. I’m not happy they left.”
Despite this, Abdullahi said their departure had reduced pressure within the party and would allow the ADC to concentrate on its core agenda.
He added, “In a way, it’s a bit of relief. Now we can focus on really doing what we need to do without being under the pressure cooker that they were trying to put us in. I am not disheartened. No, no, not at all.”
ADC Says No Fight With Duo
Abdullahi said the ADC would not adopt a hostile posture towards Obi and Kwankwaso despite their defection. He said the party still regarded them as allies rather than enemies.
“We don’t think they are our enemies. We are not going to go into a dogfight with them,” he said.
