Bolaji Abdullahi, the African Democratic Congress spokesperson, says his party backed Peter Obi above all other contenders. He made the claim while dismissing Obi's assertion that party disputes prompted his switch to the NDC.
Speaking on Arise Television's Prime Time programme, Abdullahi acknowledged that losing both Obi and Rabiu Kwankwaso represented significant departures. "These are frontline politicians of considerable standing," he noted.
Yet Abdullahi insisted the losses weren't devastating to ADC's prospects. The party remains committed to building a coalition that encompasses multiple groups, he explained.
In his words, individual parties across Nigeria had weakened substantially. Joining forces was the logical path forward for the opposition.
A consensus emerged among coalition partners about the nation's trajectory. They believed only a strong unified platform could defeat President Tinubu and reverse APC misgovernance.
Abdullahi noted that Obi and Kwankwaso held differing visions for the party's direction. According to him, Obi himself had warned that fielding two candidates would hand victory to Tinubu.
"So what's changed?" Abdullahi asked pointedly. He wondered why that logic no longer applied.
The spokesperson rejected suggestions that legal troubles drove departures from ADC. Currently, the party faces just three court cases, he said.
He described these cases as lacking substance. As national publicity secretary, he felt qualified to make that assessment.
Obi received preferential treatment compared to any other aspirant within the party. Abdullahi made that unequivocal statement during his television appearance.
He maintained that legal challenges weren't the real reason behind recent defections. Something else motivated the exits, though he didn't specify what.
Abdullahi's comments suggest internal tensions ran deeper than public disputes. The ADC chieftain appeared frustrated by the departing politicians' explanations.
