The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has ridiculed the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for its reported attempts to persuade former presidential candidate Peter Obi to return to its ranks.
Speaking to journalists, ADC National Publicity Secretary Bolaji Abdullahi described the development as laughable and a reflection of the PDP’s decline from its once-dominant position in Nigerian politics. He questioned why a party that once attracted widespread interest from political aspirants was now, in his words, “begging for candidates all over the place.”
Abdullahi argued that such efforts highlighted the extent to which the former ruling party had lost relevance. He said that if the PDP was indeed trying to woo Obi, it showed “how low the party has degenerated.” He added that the ADC saw no reason to feel threatened by the situation.
Peter Obi, who contested the 2023 presidential election under the Labour Party, is also a prominent member of the ADC-led opposition coalition. His name has re-emerged in political discussions following comments from senior PDP figures urging him to rejoin the party.
Former Information Minister Jerry Gana and Chairman of the PDP Governors’ Forum, Governor Bala Mohammed of Bauchi State, have both made public remarks appealing to Obi. Mohammed recently referred to the former Anambra State governor as the “de facto leader” of the opposition in Nigeria.
Despite these overtures, Abdullahi insisted that Obi remained firmly aligned with the coalition. He stated that the politician was well aware of what he described as the PDP’s “destructive internal dynamics” and had not indicated any intention of leaving the coalition.
“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.
The PDP has not officially confirmed whether it is making coordinated efforts to bring Obi back into the party, but the public appeals from influential members suggest growing interest in strengthening the opposition’s unity ahead of future political contests. The ADC’s criticism underscores the competitive tensions among opposition parties as they position themselves for influence in Nigeria’s evolving political landscape.
