Abdullahi, however, admitted that the defections of Obi and Kwankwaso from the ADC meant a lot, as they are significant politicians
By Kehinde Okeowo
The National Publicity Secretary of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Bolaji Abdullahi, has suggested that former Anambra State governor, Peter Obi, received more favourable treatment than other aspirants during his time with the party.
Abdullahi made the claim recently during an appearance on Arise Television’s programme, Prime Time.
He was countering Obi’s claims that internal wrangling within the ADC was part of the reason he defected to the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC).
‘I can tell you that none of the aspirants and leaders has been favoured like Peter Obi,’ Abdullahi said.
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While he admitted that the defections of Obi and the former Governor of Kano State, Rabiu Kwankwaso, were significant losses because of their political stature, he maintained that their exits did not deal a ‘mortal blow’ to the ADC.
Speaking during the interview, Abdullahi said: ‘I would be lying to say that their defection didn’t mean anything, because these are two significant, frontline politicians in this country. When you lose two such politicians, you will definitely feel that you have lost something.
‘But it’s not a mortal blow, because what we are trying to do is build a broad-based coalition that includes everyone. The reason we are building this coalition is that our individual parties have been destabilised, and the only way out is to come together.’
He continued: ‘There was a consensus among us that the direction this country is heading is quite precarious. The only way we can win the election and rescue the country from the misrule of the APC is to build a party that is formidable enough. However, Obi and Kwankwaso have a different political idea of what the party should be doing.
‘Obi himself once said that if we present two candidates against President Tinubu, we give him the advantage. I wonder what has changed now.
‘So, if legal challenges are being cited as the reason they left—creating the impression that the ADC is drowning in a mountain of litigation—the answer is no. At the moment, we only have three flimsy cases, and I say this without trying to be prejudicial as the National Publicity Secretary of the ADC.’
