National Publicity Secretary of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi, has criticized former presidential aspirant of the party, Peter Obi, alleging that he showed little interest in the party’s manifesto during his brief stay in the coalition plotting to unseat President Bola Tinubu.

On Sunday, May 3, 2026, Mr. Peter Obi, former Anambra State governor and Labour Party Presidential candidate in the 2023 general elections, alongside former Governor of Kano State, Senator, Minister and Presidential candidate of the New Nigeria Peoples Party, NNPP in the 2023 general elections, Dr Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, dumped the ADC for the Nigeria Democratic Progress, NDC.

The duo cited the leadership crisis in the ADC as reason for their defection.

But speaking during Prime Time interview on ARISE Television, Mallam Abdullahi questioned Obi’s familiarity with the party’s positions on key national issues, noting that the ADC had invested considerable time 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.”

Abdullahi 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 according to him, some political actors were more interested in using the party as a mere “special purpose vehicle” for 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 said.

“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 legal challenges influenced the defection, Abdullahi said the ADC currently faces only “three flimsy cases in court,” insisting that such concerns could not justify the exit.

He further stated that Obi received significant concessions within the party, including the opportunity to nominate the National Organising Secretary, a position widely regarded as the operational backbone of the 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 said.

Addressing claims by some of Obi’s supporters that the party was skewed in favour of a particular candidate, Abdullahi said such assertions were 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 added.

Using a metaphor to illustrate his point, Abdullahi said: “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 emphasised that while individuals are free to associate with any political platform, those who choose to leave should avoid offering what he described as “flimsy excuses.”

Abdullahi also revealed 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.

Supporters of former Anambra State Governor, Peter Obi, and former Kano State Governor, Rabiu Kwankwaso, are set to hold a unity summit in Abuja today.

The summit, themed, “One Voice, One Vision: In Unity We Win,” is being organised by the OK Movement.

The group is pushing support for a possible Obi-Kwankwaso joint political arrangement ahead of the 2027 general elections.

A flyer posted on 𝕏 by the OK Movement on Friday showed that eight speakers would address the conference.

Those listed include a chieftain of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP), Buba Galadima; activist Aisha Yesufu; and Isaac Fayose, brother of former Ekiti State governor, Ayodele Fayose.

Others are Moses Paul, a former chairmanship candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), and Adebayo Adefolaseye, the South-West coordinator of the OK Movement.

As of the time of filing this report, about 428 Nigerians had registered to attend the summit.

The development comes amid growing speculation that Obi and Kwankwaso may leave the ADC for the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC).

On Friday night, the spokesperson of the Kwankwasiyya movement, Habibu Mohammed, said the two ADC chieftains were expected to finalise the move next week.

Mohammed said the decision followed a unanimous endorsement by stakeholders.

He added that discussions with the NDC had reached “about 90 per cent,” with only minor issues left to be resolved.

According to him, Kwankwaso and Obi, the 2023 presidential candidate of the Labour Party, may move to the NDC on Monday or Tuesday.

“I believe him, Peter Obi, and some others will be joining the NDC,” Mohammed said.

The lingering ADC leadership crisis is said to be central to the planned move.

On Thursday, the Supreme Court set aside the controversial status quo ante bellum order in the ADC leadership dispute and returned the matter to the Federal High Court for determination.

The decision effectively reset the contest without resolving the substantive leadership dispute.

In April, supporters of Obi and Kwankwaso launched the OK Movement to mobilise support for a joint ticket in the 2027 elections

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has recognised the Senator David Mark-led National Working Committee (NWC) of the African Democratic Congress (ADC).

The decision of the electoral body to publish the name of Mark and Aregbesola-led NWC on its portal followed the judgement of the Supreme court which restored the Mark-led NWC.

Recall that in April, the commission, citing the order of the Court of Appeal, deleted the names of Mark-led NWC on its website.

The electoral body said it would not receive any further communication or deal with any of the parties or groups pertaining the affairs of the party and would not monitor any meeting, Congress or Convention convened on behalf ADC by any group until the matter is decided by the Federal High Court, Abuja.

The commission stressed that its decision was to ensure it does not act in any way capable of foisting a fait accompli on the court or otherwise rendering nugatory the proceedings before the trial court.