The National Publicity Secretary of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Bolaji Abdullahi, has disclosed internal developments within the opposition coalition, revealing that former Rivers State governor, Rotimi Amaechi, once threatened to exit the alliance over what he described as preferential treatment allegedly given to former Labour Party presidential candidate, Peter Obi.
Abdullahi made the remarks during an interview on Symfoni TV on Thursday, May 14, 2026, while responding to concerns surrounding allegations of marginalisation and internal disagreements within the coalition arrangement.
Speaking during the interview, Abdullahi said tensions emerged at a point when some stakeholders believed Obi was being given too much influence within the coalition structure. “Let me tell you something today that most people will not know. I have said this in another interview, but I am going to say this particular one,” Abdullahi stated.
He added, “There was a time that His Excellency Rotimi Amaechi went to the National Chairman and was threatening to leave the coalition. Do you know why? He felt that the Chairman was pampering Peter Obi. That he was conceding everything to Peter Obi.”
The ADC spokesman explained that Obi was allowed to nominate several individuals into strategic party positions as part of efforts to strengthen unity and encourage broader participation within the coalition.
According to him, some party members raised concerns over the level of accommodation given to Obi and his allies, but the leadership considered such concessions necessary for political inclusiveness. “I had two deputies. One of them was brought by Peter Obi. Amaechi cannot point at anybody in the NWC that he can say he is an Amaechi man. I doubt if Atiku can say, okay, this is my person I nominated. The National Organizing Secretary was Peter Obi man,” he said.
Abdullahi also referenced the role played by former Minister of Aviation, Osita Chidoka, in the coalition-building process before Obi formally joined the alliance.
“And by the way, before His Excellency Peter Obi joined the coalition, you had other people like Osita Chidoka, the former Minister of Aviation, in the coalition, working very hard for the coalition building. He was hoping to be the National Organizing Secretary,” he stated.
He added, “But when Peter Obi came, in order to give him a sense of belonging and everything, that’s how we lost Osita Chidoka. Because we now gave that position to Peter Obi to nominate.”
He further said the coalition leadership deliberately adopted an inclusive approach in order to retain key political figures and strengthen the alliance ahead of future political engagements: “And there are so many other people within the party system, within the party structure that he nominated.”
He added, “Other people were like, why are you giving this man, this someone, more qualifications? Because we recognize that politics is a game of addition. And the more people we are able to lock in, and if we have to make some concessions that is not going to kill anybody, then we have to make those concessions.”
Abdullahi dismissed claims that Obi was being sidelined within the coalition, insisting that the former Anambra State governor enjoyed significant accommodation within the party arrangement. “So if anybody should be complaining of toxic environment or marginalization within the party, no, no, no, I don’t think His Excellency Peter Obi, given what I know, to be the truth,” he added….See More
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