The spokesperson of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Bolaji Abdullahi, has said that Peter Obi and Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso did not leave the party suddenly, but had planned it ahead of time.
He spoke on Arise News Prime Time on Monday, where he described the ADC as a party with a clear direction and structure.
However, he accused some politicians of only using the party to push their 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,” Abdullahi said.
He also questioned Obi’s decision to leave, recalling a past statement 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 rejected claims that court cases forced them out, saying the party is only dealing with minor legal issues that cannot justify such a move.
He added that Obi was given special treatment in the party, including the chance to nominate the National Organising Secretary, which he described as a key position.
“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.
Responding to claims of bias within the party, Abdullahi said Obi never complained 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 raised concerns about bias within the party, because there was none,” he added.
Using a metaphor, he compared the situation to someone giving excuses 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 said politicians are free to join any party, but should not give weak reasons for leaving.
Abdullahi also revealed that the move may have been planned earlier, 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 said the development suggests that both Obi and Kwankwaso had already made up their minds before leaving.
