| ADC has failed to show how presidential candidate will emerge - Sen Umeh
The National Publicity Secretary of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Malam Bolaji Abdullahi, has said that the duo of Peter Obi and Rabiu Kwankwaso left the party because of their personal ambitions, and not the other way round.
Speaking on Arise Television's prime-time programme yesterday, he said Obi, in particular, wanted a party that could hand him its ticket, hence his decision to join the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC).
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The former Anambra State governor announced his resignation from the ADC, citing a "toxic" political environment and worsening internal instability within the party.
Similarly, Kwankwaso, a former Kano State governor, according to his spokesperson, Saleh Muhammad, decided to leave the ADC due to internal challenges and time constraints ahead of the 2027 elections.
Abdullahi said both Obi and Kwankwaso had been "romancing" the national leader of the NDC, Seriake Dickson, who could easily hand them the presidential ticket, insisting that their actions were premeditated.
"I may be wrong, but I'll tell you why I think he (Obi) left. I think it was premeditated. It didn't just happen last night. And you can verify it.
"About two months ago or so, he had a meeting with Seriake Dickson in Kano with Kwankwaso. That week, Kwankwaso was making up his mind to come to the ADC. They had that meeting in Kano.
"We were going to settle for consensus because, as you rightly said, there was no possibility of conducting direct primaries. So, the impression was that the consensus was leading in a particular direction.
"Whether it was leading in a particular direction or was slow in coming, honestly, I think the kind of party Peter Obi needed was the one he is in now -- a party that belongs to one man, who can guarantee him the ticket before he joins.
"But in a political party like a coalition, where a lot of negotiations need to happen, where you cannot take anybody for granted, and where you have to keep everyone within the coalition -- even when they don't get what they want -- it requires inspiring people and giving them reasons to stay. I don't think Peter will be able to survive in such an environment.
"And that's why he has gone to the NDC, because it can promise him the ticket. When he entered into an alliance with Rabiu Kwankwaso, it was an attempt to create a scenario in which he would not only secure the party's ticket but also arrive with a running mate.
"Come on, it doesn't happen that way. Some people will lose, even if we get the ticket. And we have to accommodate them. That's what it means to build a coalition," the ADC spokesperson added.
Abdullahi admitted that he was not happy about Obi and Kwankwaso leaving the ADC, but said it also brings some relief, as the party can now focus on its objectives without the pressure the duo was putting on it.
Asked whether he was concerned, the former Minister of Sports replied, "No, not at all."
According to him, there are three categories of people and leaders in the ADC.
He explained: "There are those who are just looking for a platform to contest elections -- an SPV (special purpose vehicle). That's all the ADC means to them.
"There are those who believe the ADC presents an opportunity to wrest the country from misgovernance, and the only reason they are in the party is to ensure that this APC government ends, because they believe it is taking the country in the wrong direction.
"There is a third category, some of whom belong to the second group, who believe that the ADC coalition gives an opportunity to build a real political party -- not just an SPV, but one anchored on clear principles.
"Now, His Excellency Peter Obi said he is not desperate to be president, but only desperate to rescue Nigeria. That has to be built on something.
"We set up a manifesto committee, which worked for almost two to three months to develop a clear policy direction for the party.
"You may invite Peter Obi and ask him: What is the ADC's position on fuel subsidy? What is its framework for security? He doesn't know, because he was never interested.
"They were just waiting for the ticket to be handed to them. But if you want to contest elections and truly believe in changing the country, you should know what your party stands for."
On whether the ADC can still anchor a credible opposition coalition for 2027, Abdullahi said: "Absolutely. It's a setback, but a temporary one.
"We are recalibrating, and we will come back stronger. Has the possibility of a three-horse race dented our chances? Perhaps. But is it fatal? No."
Asked whether the path was now clear for Atiku to secure the party's nomination, Abdullahi responded in the negative.
He stressed, "The ADC is not going to be an SPV for anybody. That's what they wanted, and we cannot give it to them."
However, an Obi ally, Senator Victor Umeh, defended Obi's defection to the NDC.
Speaking on Arise TV, Umeh corroborated the reasons for Obi's move, recalling that the coalition process started well until legal complications emerged.
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He also argued that those accusing Obi of being politically nomadic are equally guilty of similar defections, noting that hardly any Nigerian politician has remained in one party throughout their career.
"Nobody in Nigerian politics can say they have not moved from one party to another. The only difference is the number and sequence," he said.
Umeh further noted that political parties in Nigeria lack strong ideology, which makes it easier for politicians to switch affiliations.
He blamed the ADC leadership for not doing enough to put in place proper structures for presidential primaries, adding that the party failed to properly assess the integrity and capacity of aspirants, leading to an influx of contenders.
"No process was put in place to weigh the aspirants and guide them on the way forward," he said. "Everyone continued making claims about winning elections, even those who, by ordinary opinion polls, would not garner significant support."
While noting that efforts to reach a consensus presidential candidate were unsuccessful, he added that the party currently lacks the capacity to conduct direct primaries across over 8,000 wards nationwide.
He also pointed out that even the APC has struggled to implement direct primaries successfully.
