The National Publicity Secretary of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Bolaji Abdullahi, has openly expressed his unhappiness over the recent defection of former Anambra State Governor, Peter Obi, and his Kano counterpart, Rabiu Kwankwaso, from the ADC, describing the development as a “setback” but firmly insisting that it does not amount to a fatal blow to the opposition platform.
![](https://thenigerialawyer.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/TheNigerialawyer-WhatsApp-Channel1.jpg")
Speaking during a Prime Time interview on Arise Television on Monday, Abdullahi made it clear that while the exit of the two political heavyweights was personally disappointing, it had also brought a measure of relief to the party in terms of allowing it to refocus on its core mandate.
“Personally, I’m not happy that Peter Obi and Kwankwaso left the ADC, but in a way, it’s a bit of a relief,” he stated. “Is this a setback? The answer is yes. Is it a fatal blow? The answer is no.”
It is recalled that Obi and Kwankwaso formally dumped the ADC on Sunday for the Nigerian Democratic Congress (NDC), with both men citing the leadership crisis within the ADC as the reason for their defection a move that has triggered intense political conversations across the country, particularly within the broader opposition coalition that had been plotting to unseat President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in the 2027 elections.
Abdullahi, however, used his Arise TV appearance to deliver one of the most pointed rebukes of Obi yet, alleging that the former Anambra governor showed little or no interest in the party’s manifesto during his brief stay in the coalition. According to him, the ADC had invested considerable time and resources in developing its policy direction.
“We set up a manifesto committee that worked for about two to three months to develop a document that clearly outlined what we will do differently,” Abdullahi said. “You may invite His Excellency Peter Obi here and ask him, what is the ADC position on fuel subsidy? What is the ADC’s framework on security? He doesn’t know, because he’s never been interested.”
The Publicity Secretary further alleged that some politicians were more focused on securing party tickets than engaging with ideological frameworks. “They are just waiting for the tickets to be handed to them. If you say you want to contest election, and you believe in changing the country, you should know what your party stands for,” he added.
Abdullahi described the ADC as a party with clear ideology and structure capable of offering Nigerians credible alternatives, but lamented that some political actors appeared to have been more interested in using the party as a mere “special purpose vehicle” for the realisation of their personal ambition.
“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 declared. “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?”
Dismissing claims that the ongoing legal challenges within the ADC informed the defection, Abdullahi said the party was currently dealing with only “three flimsy cases in court,” insisting that such matters could not reasonably justify the exit of the duo.
The Publicity Secretary further revealed that Obi enjoyed significant concessions within the party, including the rare privilege of nominating the National Organising Secretary — a position widely regarded as the operational backbone of any political party. “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 disclosed.
Addressing claims by some of Obi’s supporters that the party had tilted in favour of a particular candidate, Abdullahi rejected the assertion as unfounded. “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 stated.
In a rather striking metaphor, Abdullahi likened the defection to a marriage gone sour. “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, emphasising that while individuals are free to associate with any political platform of their choice, those who choose to leave ought to avoid what he termed “flimsy excuses.”
In what may prove to be the most explosive aspect of his interview, Abdullahi disclosed that Obi’s defection appeared to have been in motion for some time, citing a meeting held two months ago in Kano involving Obi, Kwankwaso, and former Bayelsa State Governor, 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.
According to Abdullahi, Dickson indicated that the NDC remained an alternative platform open to interested politicians. “What this suggests is that the defection of Peter Obi and Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso was pre-planned. It even raises the question of whether Kwankwaso’s involvement in the ADC was a trojan horse at the onset,” he added — a remark that has effectively cast a long shadow of suspicion over the political manoeuvres that culminated in Sunday’s high-profile exits.
With the dust yet to settle on the defection, the ADC under its current leadership now faces the dual task of consolidating its ranks and convincing Nigerians that the departure of two of its most prominent figures has not weakened its capacity to mount a formidable challenge against the ruling All Progressives Congress in the 2027 general elections.
Interested buyers are encouraged to place their orders and enquiries via:
0704 444 4777, 0704 444 4999, 0818 199 9888
Website: www.alexandernigeria.com
The book, titled The Law of Torts in Nigeria: A Functional Approach, authored by Professor Hagler Sunny Okorie Ph.D and Ikeocha, Nathaniel Ngozi Esq, offers law students, practitioners, and academics a comprehensive guide to understanding and applying tort law in Nigerian courts. Interested buyers can place orders via the following contact numbers: 08028636615, 08037667945, 08032253813, or +234 902 196 2209.
_______________________________________________________________________
ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE FOR LAWYERS: A COMPREHENSIVE GUIDE
Reimagine your practice with the power of AI “...this is the only Nigerian book I know of on the topic.” — Ohio Books Ltd
Authored by Ben Ijeoma Adigwe, Esq., ACIArb (UK), LL.M, Dip. in Artificial Intelligence, Director, Delta State Ministry of Justice, Asaba, Nigeria.
Bonus:
Get a FREE eBook titled “How to Use the AI in Legalpedia and Law Pavilion” with every purchase.
How to Order: 📞 Call, Text, or WhatsApp: 08034917063 | 07055285878 📧 Email: benadigwe1@gmail.com 🌐 Website: www.benadigwe.com
Ebook Version: Access directly online at: https://selar.com/prv626
________________________________________________________________________ [A MUST HAVE] Evidence Act Demystified With Recent And Contemporary Cases And Materials
