A prominent public affairs analyst, Babajide Balogun has reacted to the exit of former Governor of Anambra state, Peter Obi from the African Democratic Congress, ADC, describing it as “evasion disguised as principle.”
According to Balogun, Nigeria does not need political tourists drifting from platform to platform in search of the easiest path. It needs fighters—leaders who can stand, contend, and win on merit. The opposition needs warriors, not escape artists. Nigeria deserves far better.
Peter Obi on Sunday announced his defection from ADC on the ground of internal disagreement and other matters.
Speaking on the development, the Public Affairs Analyst said: “Obi’s recurring retreat from political combat raises a troubling question: if he cannot endure the contest within a party, how will he withstand the storms of governance? Leadership demands spine, not escape routes. It demands conviction, not convenience.
“Should he once again abandon the coalition, let no one be deceived: it will not be because the system failed him—it will be because the system demanded that he earn his place. And in refusing that test, he will not only weaken the opposition; he will strengthen the very forces he claims to oppose.”
Recalling Obi’s political journey, Balogun explained that” When the final chapter of Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s presidency is written, history will not be kind to Peter Obi. It will record—plainly and without sentiment—that his political choices helped fracture a winnable opposition and paved the way for the very outcome his supporters now lament.
“In 2023, the Peoples Democratic Party stood on the cusp of reclaiming power, buoyed by its 2019 momentum. Yet, on the eve of its defining moment, Obi walked away—abandoning the field rather than contesting it—and transformed what could have been a straight fight into a fractured three-way contest that ultimately handed victory to the All Progressives Congress.
“Following that defeat, Atiku Abubakar moved to rebuild the opposition through a broad coalition anchored on the African Democratic Congress—a platform designed to unify heavyweights and mount a credible 2027 challenge. It was a strategic masterstroke—until internal sabotage began to fester.
“Rather than strengthening the coalition, Obi and his camp ignited a rebellion from within. First, they rejected consensus. Then they attacked the process. When direct primaries—arguably the most democratic mechanism—were proposed, they recoiled again. The moment it became clear that popularity would be tested at the grassroots, the narrative shifted to demands that others step aside. What followed was a relentless “Obi or Nothing” crusade—an ideological straitjacket that turned allies into targets and reduced coalition politics to personality worship.
“This is not the conduct of a statesman; it is the reflex of a political opportunist unwilling to submit to scrutiny. Leadership is not conferred by online adulation or emotional fervour—it is earned in the arena, through contest, resilience, and the capacity to withstand pressure. Both Atiku Abubakar and Chibuike Amaechi have faced the furnace of competitive primaries. Obi, by contrast, has cultivated a pattern: when the heat rises, he exits.
“Even now, as the ADC insists on due process, reports suggest Obi is preparing yet another political migration—another escape route dressed up as principle. The pattern is unmistakable: evade contest, seek coronation, and when denied, cry foul.
“Democracy is not a sanctuary for the faint-hearted. It is a battleground of ideas, strength, and legitimacy. A man who aspires to be Commander-in-Chief must first prove he can command within his own political camp. To seek the highest office without passing through the crucible of internal democracy is not strategy—it is surrender.”
