For many political observers, the reported defection of Labour Party’s 2023 presidential candidate, Mr Peter Obi, from the African Democratic Congress (ADC) to the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) just days after joining the party with much fanfare came as a surprise.
According to The Nation, close associates of both politicians claimed the development was not unexpected, saying there had been tensions beneath the surface long before the move.
It was noted that their association in the ADC was not the first time both men had found themselves in the same political camp. In fact, they had previously worked together during the 2019 presidential election, when Obi served as Atiku Abubakar’s running mate under the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
At the time, Atiku was said to have chosen Obi over several other prominent figures who were reportedly considered for the vice-presidential ticket, including former Deputy Senate President Ike Ekweremadu, former Central Bank of Nigeria governor and then Anambra State governor Prof. Charles Soludo, former Minister of Agriculture Akinwumi Adesina, and former AMCON Managing Director, Mr. Chike Obi.
The Atiku–Obi ticket, however, went on to lose the election, continuing Atiku’s earlier string of unsuccessful presidential bids. Despite the loss, sources claimed that the fallout from the partnership was not solely about the electoral defeat, but also about internal disagreements during the campaign.
According to party insiders, Atiku was allegedly displeased with Obi’s approach to campaign funding, accusing him of being reluctant to contribute financially and instead depending largely on Atiku to shoulder the cost of their joint presidential ambition.
The sources further alleged that this experience left a lasting impression on Atiku and shaped his perception of Obi in subsequent political dealings.
In light of this background, an ADC chieftain who spoke on the condition of anonymity claimed that Atiku’s reaction to Obi’s entry into the ADC was one of scepticism, suggesting that he believed from the outset that Obi’s presence in the party would not lead to a successful or stable political partnership, given their previous experience together.
The official said, “A lot of people know about Obi’s self-entitlement mentality, but they don’t know how serious it is. Do you know that Obi’s stingy nature was the sore point between him and Atiku in ADC? Atiku already knew him from their working relationship in 2019.
“So, the moment some people approached him with the proposal that he should step down for Obi in the contest for the party’s presidential ticket, the first thing he told them was to ask Obi to first of all put down money for the party’s nomination form.”
The source alleged that Atiku made the demand because he was aware of Obi’s reluctance to spend money, adding that Obi’s subsequent actions appeared to confirm that concern. The source further claimed that Obi left the party quickly, before anyone could react, and moved to the NDC.
The source also stated that the main challenge the NDC might face if Obi became its presidential candidate would be getting him to commit financial resources to campaign activities…See More
