ADC knocks PDP over moves to woo Obi, claims party has lost influence

The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has taken a swipe at the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) over reported efforts to woo Peter Obi, describing the development as a clear sign of the party’s political decline.

National Publicity Secretary of the ADC, Bolaji Abdullahi, said it was “laughable” that the PDP, once dominant in Nigerian politics, was now “begging for candidates all over the place,” a situation he claimed reflected the former ruling party’s loss of relevance.

“If the PDP is truly wooing Peter Obi, that tells you how low the party has degenerated,” Abdullahi said.

“This is the same party that many Nigerians were once desperate to get its ticket. Now they are begging for candidates. Why would we be threatened by that?”

Obi, who was the Labour Party’s presidential candidate in the 2023 election, is also a key member of the ADC-led opposition coalition. His name has resurfaced in political circles following remarks by prominent PDP figures urging him to return to the party.

Among those making the overtures are former Information Minister, Prof Jerry Gana, and Chairman of the PDP Governors’ Forum, Governor Bala Mohammed of Bauchi State, who recently described Obi as the de facto leader of the opposition.

But Abdullahi dismissed the outreach, stating that Obi remains a part of the coalition and is fully aware of what he called the PDP’s “destructive internal dynamics.”

“All I know is that Peter Obi is still part of the coalition. He has not told us that he has left or is leaving,” Abdullahi said.

“But Peter Obi knows better. I have said it repeatedly: he understands the PDP as well as everyone else. Can anybody take the risk with PDP now? Knowing the internal dynamics within the PDP that have led us down this path of destruction?”

He added that the ADC was not concerned about the speculated moves and remained focused on building a viable political alternative.

“So we are not bothered,” he said. “We are focused on what we are doing. Like I told you, Peter has not told us he’s leaving the coalition.”