Bolaji Abdullahi, the African Democratic Congress publicity chief, has launched a scathing attack on Peter Obi. He claims the former presidential hopeful showed no genuine commitment to the party's agenda.
Obi and Rabiu Kwankwaso quit the ADC for the Nigeria Democratic Progress on Sunday. They blamed leadership turmoil within the coalition for their sudden exit.
But during an appearance on ARISE Television, Abdullahi painted a different picture. He suggested Obi was chasing the ticket, not the party's vision.
According to him, the ADC spent two to three months crafting its manifesto. A dedicated committee worked to outline the party's policy direction on critical issues.
"Ask Peter Obi what our position is on fuel subsidy," Abdullahi challenged during the interview. "Ask him about our security framework.
He won't know because he never bothered to learn."
Abdullahi alleged that several politicians treat parties as stepping stones to power. They want tickets handed to them without understanding party ideology or values.
"If you truly believe in rescuing the nation, you must know what your party represents," he noted. "These men are just waiting for endorsements to arrive."
He described the ADC as ideologically coherent and structurally sound. Yet he argued some politicians viewed it merely as a vehicle for personal gain.
Abdullahi pointed to the party's resistance against government pressure since inception. "We've fought back consistently and remained focused on our mission," he told the ARISE presenter.
He even recalled a coalition meeting where Obi himself warned of disaster. According to Abdullahi, Obi said fielding two candidates against Tinubu would guarantee his victory in 2027.
"So what exactly has changed now?" Abdullahi asked rhetorically. The party spokesperson seemed genuinely puzzled by the sudden reversal.
Obi's supporters had blamed ongoing legal cases against the ADC for the defection. Abdullahi dismissed this claim as an excuse without substance.
"We're dealing with just three weak court cases," he said. "These shouldn't justify abandoning a party and its mission."
Among Obi's major concessions was nominating the National Organising Secretary. This position controls party congresses, elections, and daily operations—essentially the party's engine room.
"No other aspirant received such consideration from us," Abdullahi stated firmly. "We gave Peter Obi tremendous space to influence party machinery."
Critics have alleged the ADC favored particular candidates, creating an uneven playing field. Abdullahi rejected these claims entirely.
He noted consistent engagement with Obi over several months. "He attended coalition meetings regularly without raising concerns about bias," Abdullahi added.
Obi took nearly a year before formally joining the ADC, according to Abdullahi. Throughout that period, he raised no objections about the party's fairness or structure.
"We met him consistently and he was accommodated at every turn," Abdullahi concluded. "The narrative being peddled now simply doesn't match reality."
