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Peter Obi’s Move to ADC a Game-Changer, Brings Us Closer to Aso Rock — Ladan Salihu
ADC chieftain Ladan Salihu says Peter Obi’s move to the party is a blockbuster that boosts opposition strength for 2027, insisting ADC remains united and focused on democratic primaries.
A chieftain of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Dr. Ladan Salihu, has described the defection of former Labour Party presidential candidate, Peter Obi, to the ADC as a “blockbuster” development that has significantly boosted the party’s chances ahead of the 2027 general election.
Speaking during a monitored interview on Arise News, Salihu said Obi’s entry into the ADC, alongside former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, marked a defining moment for the party and the opposition movement in Nigeria.
“Politically, the defection of Peter Obi to the ADC is a blockbuster. It is a defining moment in our political history, in the history of the ADC and in the history of the opposition movement in Nigeria,” he said.
According to Salihu, the combined electoral strength of Atiku and Obi from the 2023 presidential election places the ADC in a strong position.
“Numbers do not lie. The two put together in the last presidential elections in 2023 had about 62 to 63 per cent of the total presidential votes. If you put that calculus on the table, you can literally say that the coming of Obi into the ADC has put us in a pole position, one leg already in the presidential villa,” he added.
Salihu said the excitement within the party was evident during Obi’s recent engagement in Enugu, where prominent political figures from the South-East were present.
“When you look at the optics in Enugu, who is who in Eastern Nigerian politics was there. Senators led by Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe, former governors, former deputy speaker of the House of Representatives and many others. We are excited and upbeat,” he said.
Addressing concerns raised by Professor Pat Utomi over Obi possibly not emerging as the ADC’s presidential candidate, Salihu urged restraint, saying it was too early to focus on primaries.
“I think Professor Pat Utomi is rushing. At this stage, we should savour the moment and focus on growing the party, marketing it to Nigerians and taking our message to the grassroots,” he said.
On claims by Nasiru Gombe that Obi joined a faction of the ADC, Salihu dismissed the assertion, describing it as baseless.
“This is the first time I’m hearing about a faction in the ADC. It is part of the APC playbook to cause disaffection and disunity among opposition parties. It will not work with the ADC,” he said.
He added: “The ADC is one party. The other person is on his own. With what happened at the Yar’Adua Centre, where the ADC structure endorsed David Mark and his team, anybody talking about factions is engaging in hysterical nonsense.”
Salihu expressed confidence that the ADC would not suffer the internal crises that have weakened other opposition parties like the PDP and Labour Party.
“We have seasoned politicians with pedigree, integrity and capacity across the South, North and Middle Belt. They will not divide the ADC. We will coalesce as a coalition and resist any attempt to destabilise us,” he said.
On concerns that Obi’s supporters might abandon the party if he fails to secure the presidential ticket, Salihu said politics should not be conditional.
“In politics, you don’t join a party with conditions or preconditions. Eventually, delegates will decide. Any ‘winner-takes-all’ mindset is anti-democratic and should not be encouraged,” he stated.
He also dismissed the notion that money politics would automatically disadvantage Obi, stressing that party rules and democratic processes must prevail.
“Peter Obi himself has said let the best candidate win. If he wins, Atiku will support him. If Atiku wins, Obi will support him. That is how democracy should work,” Salihu said.
On zoning and the debate over whether the presidency should remain in the South in 2027, Salihu said there was no binding consensus.
“What we have is a debate, not a consensus. History shows that zoning has been selectively applied. Nigerians should not be told there are different rules for different people,” he said.
While not ruling out a Southern candidate for the ADC, Salihu argued that rigid rotational arrangements were politically unsustainable.
“The idea that one part must do eight years and another must do eight years is unsustainable. I do not agree with it,” he said.
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