The National Publicity Secretary of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Bolaji Abdullahi, has said the defection of former Labour Party (LP) presidential candidate, Peter Obi, and former Kano State governor, Rabiu Kwankwaso, to the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) would weaken the opposition ahead of the 2027 elections.
PrimeTimes Nigeria reports that Abdullahi said the opposition would have stood a better chance against President Bola Tinubu if it had remained united.
He stated this during an interview on AIT’s Political Platform programme. According to the ADC spokesman, a divided opposition would only strengthen the ruling party.
“If you have a united opposition working to challenge the incumbent, then you stand a better chance.
“But the moment you have the opposition divided, then you have a three-horse or four, it gives advantage to the incumbent,” he said.
Abdullahi added that Obi and Kwankwaso’s move would affect not only the ADC but the entire opposition bloc.
“What happened to Peter Obi and Kwankwaso leaving the ADC does not hurt only the ADC, it hurt the generality, it’s going to affect them the way it’s going to affect us,” he said.
The ADC spokesman maintained that the opposition would have been stronger if key political figures had remained together.
“If we were able to hold together, then we would have stood a better chance. I’m not saying that it’s not possible,” he added.
Abdullahi also clarified that any talks involving former Vice-President, Atiku Abubakar, and other aspirants were personal engagements, not official party negotiations.
“If Atiku Abubakar is talking to any other aspirant, it is not ADC speaking, it is one aspirant negotiating with another,” he said.