How Obasanjo, Atiku war tore opposition coalition apart

A significant rift between former President Olusegun Obasanjo and his ex-vice president, Atiku Abubakar, has reportedly fractured the opposition coalition led by the African Democratic Congress (ADC), according to sources within the ADC and the Kwankwasiyya Movement. The discord appears to stem from Obasanjo's alleged attempts to influence the ADC's presidential candidacy.

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Obi had not even nursed defection at that time. After that discussion with Baba (Obasanjo), Obi’s supporters began the ‘Obi or nobody’ mantra and there was turbulence which we were able to manage.

Sources within the ADC claim that Obasanjo directly contacted party leaders, instructing them to prevent Atiku Abubakar from securing the presidential ticket if they desired his support. This alleged intervention created internal turbulence, particularly concerning Peter Obi, whose supporters then rallied behind the 'Obi or nobody' slogan. The situation escalated when Obasanjo and Obi reportedly interpreted the Ibadan Opposition Coalition Summit as an indication that the party intended to field an Atiku-Makinde presidential ticket, prompting preparations to exit the ADC.

As it became clear that Peter Obi intended to leave the ADC, party officials, including National Secretary Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, reportedly met with Obasanjo in late April, attempting to persuade him to dissuade Obi from defecting. However, another ADC insider suggested that Obasanjo's primary condition for Obi remaining in the party was ensuring Atiku did not receive the presidential ticket. "An Atiku-Obi alliance would have secured victory for ADC, but Baba obviously didn’t want Atiku to realise his presidential ambition. That is my view, anyway," the source stated.

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However, Baba and Obi interpreted the Ibadan Opposition Coalition Summit to mean that we wanted to fly an Atiku-Makinde presidential ticket. So, they began preparations to exit the party.

Obi officially departed the ADC on May 3, citing internal crises and an "urgent need to address the country’s worsening situation." He later stated on his X account that his decision was driven by "deep reflection" on the nation's state and a desire to reposition himself for more effective contribution to national progress. A loyalist of Aregbesola confirmed that the ADC secretary made significant efforts to prevent Obi and Rabiu Kwankwaso from leaving the ADC, including meeting with Obasanjo and other key national leaders, though they were uncertain if Obasanjo had directly instructed Obi to leave.

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An Atiku-Obi alliance would have secured victory for ADC, but Baba obviously didn’t want Atiku to realise his presidential ambition. That is my view, anyway.

Adding to this narrative, a chieftain of the Kwankwasiyya Movement, loyal to former Kano State Governor Rabiu Kwankwaso, also indicated that Obasanjo was instrumental in Obi's exit from the ADC. This source described Obasanjo as "Obi's compass" and suggested that the former president had envisioned an ADC presidential ticket for Obi from the outset, driving his move to the party. The report suggests that Obasanjo's influence and alleged maneuvering played a pivotal role in the coalition's fragmentation.

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That is not a lie. Oga (Aregbesola) did everything to stop Obi and Kwankwaso from leaving the ADC. He went to meet Obasanjo and other key leaders of the country. However, I didn’t know if it was Obasanjo who instructed Obi to leave the party.