A senior official of Nigeria’s African Democratic Congress (ADC) has dismissed speculation about opposition figure Peter Obi rejoining his former party, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), declaring such a move “too risky” due to broader political dynamics shaping the country’s landscape. Bolaji Abdullahi, the ADC’s spokesperson, asserted that Obi—a prominent presidential candidate for the Labour Party in the 2023 elections—remains aligned with a coalition involving the ADC, a claim spotlighting shifting alliances ahead of future polls.
Abdullahi’s remarks, made during an interview on Arise TV’s Prime Time program on Monday, responded to reports of the PDP attempting to court Obi back into its ranks. The former PDP vice presidential candidate defected to the Labour Party ahead of the 2023 elections, emerging as a third-force challenger. “Let me say clearly, Peter Obi is in the coalition,” Abdullahi stated, emphasizing collaboration among opposition groups. He suggested the ADC’s growing influence had prompted the PDP to intensify outreach efforts, but indicated skepticism about its viability: “It is good to see that it has taken the ADC’s coming on board to get the PDP to begin to make some movements. But everyone knows the jugular of the PDP is in the hands of the ruling party.”
The ADC spokesperson framed Obi’s potential return to the PDP as politically untenable, citing the party’s perceived vulnerabilities under the influence of Nigeria’s ruling All Progressives Congress (APC). “Peter Obi, more than anyone else, knows he cannot take the risk of going to the PDP,” Abdullahi said, though he did not elaborate on specific risks. His comments reflect deepening realignments within Nigeria’s opposition bloc, where smaller parties like the ADC and Labour Party vie to challenge the dominance of the APC and PDP, which have alternated power since 1999.
Obi’s 2023 campaign gained unexpected momentum, particularly among younger voters, amplifying his influence in a polarized political climate. His affiliation with the ADC-led coalition signals a strategic push to consolidate opposition forces, though neither he nor the Labour Party has publicly confirmed formal ties to the ADC. Analysts note that such alliances could reshape Nigeria’s electoral map ahead of state and national elections, but fragmentation and internal rivalries remain persistent challenges for anti-establishment groups.
The PDP has yet to respond to Abdullahi’s claims, but the public exchange underscores intensifying efforts to unify opposition voices against the APC. With Nigeria’s next general elections in 2027, speculation around coalition-building, defections, and high-profile candidacies is expected to dominate political discourse, with Obi’s moves closely watched as a potential bellwether.
