The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has granted a waiver to Peter Obi and Nasir El-Rufai, allowing them to remain in their current political parties; Labour Party (LP) and Social Democratic Party (SDP), as they continue supporting the opposition coalition ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The confirmation came from Bolaji Abdullahi, interim National Publicity Secretary of the ADC, during an exclusive interview on Wednesday.
“Obi is correct. This applies to himself and Nasir El-Rufai. Their supporters have already obtained forms to contest in their legacy parties, so asking them to defect would disrupt their structures,” Abdullahi explained.
The clarification follows stern remarks by ADC interim National Chairman David Mark, who warned of zero tolerance for anti-party activities during a recent address in Abuja.
“You are either in ADC or not. No mid-way in this business,” Mark had declared.
Despite the warning, Obi’s team maintained that the former Anambra governor had already stated his commitment to the coalition while remaining in the Labour Party. This was echoed by Dr Yunusa Tanko, National Coordinator of the Obidient Movement Worldwide.
“Our principal made it clear from the beginning that he remains a Labour man. The coalition is for 2027,” Tanko noted.
Abdullahi confirmed that the concession was made to avoid destabilising existing party structures.
In response to viral statements claiming that Obi had rejoined the PDP or been offered a leadership role in the ADC, his media aide, Umar Ibrahim, issued a firm denial.
“Peter Obi has been unequivocal in his stance. He hasn’t made any such statements. The public should ignore unauthenticated sources,” Ibrahim warned.
Despite ongoing political speculation, Obi continues to focus on what he describes as building “a new Nigeria of our dreams.”
