ADC: Obi, Kwankwaso Exit Hurts But Eases Pressure
The African Democratic Congress has acknowledged that the departure of Peter Obi and Rabiu Kwankwaso from its platform is a setback, while simultaneously describing it as a source of relief, as Nigeria’s opposition landscape continues to fracture ahead of the 2027 general elections.
ADC National Publicity Secretary Bolaji Abdullahi made the disclosure on Monday during an appearance on Arise News’ Prime Time programme, where he acknowledged the blow but insisted the party’s objectives remained unchanged.
“Is it a setback? The answer is yes. Is it a fatal blow? The answer is no, because the objectives are very clear. They are still the same,” Abdullahi said.
Obi and Kwankwaso were formally registered as members of the Nigeria Democratic Congress on Sunday at its national secretariat in Abuja, where they were issued membership cards in the presence of party officials and supporters. Their move to the NDC came with a call to end what both politicians described as litigation driven politics.
Obi and Kwankwaso had joined the ADC amid ongoing internal disputes, with Nafiu Bala laying claim to the party’s leadership and challenging the David Mark led faction in court.
When pressed on whether losing two politicians who collectively secured over seven million votes in 2023 had weakened the ADC, Abdullahi argued that past electoral numbers did not guarantee future political outcomes.
The ADC spokesman was candid about his personal disappointment. “Personally, I’m not happy they left. And I cannot tell you why, because I have my own sentiments. I’m not happy they left,” he said.
Despite that, Abdullahi suggested the exits had eased internal tensions. “In a way, it’s a bit of relief. Now we can focus on really doing what we need to do without being under the pressure cooker that they were trying to put us in. I am not disheartened. No, no, not at all,” he said.
The ADC also ruled out any confrontational posture toward the departing figures. “We don’t think they are our enemies. We are not going to go into a dogfight with them,” Abdullahi said.
In a statement before his exit, Obi said his decision was not motivated by personal anger or ambition but by deep reflection on Nigeria’s condition and the urgent need to rescue the country. He drew a parallel with his earlier exit from the Labour Party, saying both decisions were driven by the same concerns.
Upon joining the NDC, Obi appealed to party members to avoid litigation, saying: “Please let there be no litigation. Party members, please don’t go to court. We want to build a party, we are not lawyers.”
He warned that democracy must not be turned into a weapon against the people and that opposition parties must not be deliberately weakened, as citizens ultimately bear the consequences when democratic balance is lost.
The development has also triggered wider departures from the ADC, with many who had joined alongside Obi and Kwankwaso now following them out of the party.