The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has described the departure of Peter Obi and Rabiu Kwankwaso as both a setback and a relief, insisting the party can now focus on its internal plans without pressure.
ADC spokesperson, Bolaji Abdullahi, stated this during an interview on ARISE TV on Monday.
He said although he personally regretted their exit, it has eased internal tensions.
“Personally, I’m not happy that Peter Obi and Kwankwaso left ADC, because I have my sentiments. But in a way, it’s a bit of a relief. Now we can do what we really need to do without being under the pressure cooker that they were trying to put us in.
“Is this a setback? The answer is yes. Is it a fatal blow? The answer is no,” Abdullahi said.
He criticised Obi, accusing him of lacking knowledge about the party’s manifesto.
“We set up a manifesto committee to develop a blueprint on what we want to do differently. You may invite Peter Obi and ask him what ADC’s position is on fuel subsidy or security. He doesn’t know because he has never been interested.
“They are just waiting for the ticket to be handed over to them,” he added.
Abdullahi further maintained that anyone seeking to contest under a political platform must understand its ideological direction.
“If you want to contest an election and believe you want to change the country, you should know what your party stands for,” he said.
He disclosed that the ADC is considering adopting a consensus presidential candidate, noting that Obi allegedly preferred a different arrangement.
“We are going to settle for consensus, because there was no possibility of direct primary based on the Electoral Act,” he said.
“I think the kind of party that Peter Obi needed was the party he’s in now — a party that belongs to one man who can guarantee him the ticket before he joins.”
Obi had on Sunday announced his resignation from the ADC, barely months after joining the party in December.
In his resignation letter, Obi said his decision was not due to any personal grievances against party leaders, including former Senate President David Mark and former Vice President Atiku Abubakar.
He, however, cited worsening internal crises within the party.
“My decision to leave the ADC is not because Senator David Mark, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, or any other respected leaders treated me badly. I will continue to respect them.
“However, the same Nigerian state and its agents that created unnecessary crises and hostility within the Labour Party that forced me to leave now appear to be finding their way into the ADC, with endless court cases, internal battles, suspicion, and division.
“Instead of focusing on deeper national problems, politics is being built more on control and exclusion than on service and nation-building,” Obi said.
Titilope Adako is a talented and intrepid journalist, dedicated to shedding light on the untold stories of Osun State and Nigeria. Through incisive reporting, she tackles a broad spectrum of topics, from politics and social justice to culture and entertainment, with a commitment to accuracy, empathy, and inspiring positive change.
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