The National Publicity Secretary of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Bolaji Abdullahi, has acknowledged the departure of Peter Obi and Rabiu Kwankwaso from the party, describing it as a notable loss but not a crippling setback for the opposition coalition.
Speaking during an interview with ARISE NEWS on Monday, Abdullahi said the exit of both prominent politicians would be felt, but insisted it would not derail the coalition’s broader political objectives ahead of the 2027 general elections.
“I would be lying to say it didn’t mean anything. No, these are two significant politicians, frontline politicians in this country.
”When you lose those two politicians, then you will feel that you’ve lost something.
”But it’s not a mortal blow, because what we are trying to do, like you said, is to build a broad-based coalition. A big coalition that will include everyone,” he said.
He explained that the coalition was formed to unify fragmented opposition parties into a stronger political platform capable of challenging the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
“There was a reason we’re trying to do this coalition. Our individual parties had been destabilised, and the only way out for us was to come together and form this coalition. That is one.
”Number two, there was a consensus among us that the direction the country is going is quite precarious, and the only way we can win election and rescue the country from the misrule of the APC is to build a party that is formidable enough and that can beat the incumbent.
”That’s the idea behind the coalition we’re trying to build,” he stated.
Reacting to Obi’s reasons for leaving, Abdullahi said he relied on the former presidential candidate’s own statement, noting that Obi cited legal challenges within the party as part of his decision.
“I will refer to the statement released by His Excellency Peter Obi announcing that he was leaving the party as the only credible evidence that I have of why they left.
”One, he said the party is beleaguered by legal challenges. Which is true. But in spite of these legal challenges that we have, we built one of the most formidable coalition parties in Nigeria,” he said.
Abdullahi, however, maintained that the ADC remains structurally strong despite ongoing legal disputes, adding that the coalition has continued to function and grow.
He further suggested that the exit of Obi and Kwankwaso may reduce internal pressure within the coalition, allowing remaining members to focus on consolidation.
“I’m not happy they left. But in a way, it’s a bit of relief. Now we can focus on really doing what we need to do without being under the pressure cooker that they were trying to put us in,” he said.
He stressed that although the departures represent a setback, they do not alter the coalition’s core objectives.
“Is it a setback? The answer is yes. Is it a fatal blow? The answer is no. Because the objectives are very clear. They are still the same,” he maintained.
