Bolaji Abdullahi, the National Publicity Secretary of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), has raised concerns over the conduct of Peter Obi following his departure from the party to the National Democratic Congress (NDC).
In an interview published by The Sun Nigeria on Sunday, May 10, 2026, Abdullahi criticized Obi’s approach to party democracy, claiming he sought to bypass internal processes.
According to the spokesperson, Obi was unwilling to participate in primaries, expecting instead to be handed the presidential ticket directly.
Abdullahi noted that the situation was further complicated by Obi’s reported demand to unilaterally select his running mate, a move he described as highly unusual in standard political practice.
He said, “He doesn’t want primaries anywhere. He just wants to walk in, and we hand him the ticket. And in this matter, what is worse, he’s not just wanting the ticket, he also wants to decide who will be the running mate. Have you seen that kind of thing before?”
The ADC coalition was originally established as a grand alliance to bring together various opposition figures, including Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, to challenge the incumbency of President Bola Tinubu.
The goal was to build a unified front that could offer a credible alternative to the ruling party.
However, this unity fractured as Obi and Kwankwaso eventually defected to the NDC.
Obi attributed his exit to deepening internal crises within the ADC, specifically citing ongoing leadership disputes and legal battles that he felt hampered the party’s ability to focus on reform.
In a statement made yesterday, Obi defended his decision to switch affiliations by emphasizing the importance of values over political labels.
He argued that people leave a party not out of a lack of loyalty, but because of their principles.
For Obi, the move was framed as a necessity when a party’s internal direction no longer aligns with the core beliefs or the mission required to serve the country effectively.
