By Adeyemi Adeleye
Lagos, Dec. 31, 2025 (NAN)
The All Progressives Congress (APC) has framed the defection of Mr. Peter Obi from the Labour Party to the African Democratic Congress (ADC) as a profound act of political hypocrisy, one that fundamentally undermines the moral platform upon which he built his national brand.
In a sharply worded statement issued by its Lagos State Spokesman, Mr. Seye Oladejo, the APC asserted that Obi’s move confirms his return to the very political “ecosystem” he spent years publicly condemning as corrupt and antithetical to Nigeria’s renewal.
The Core Allegation: A Betrayal of Principle for Convenience
Oladejo’s central critique employs the biblical metaphor, “returned to his vomit” (Proverbs 26:11), to paint Obi’s defection not as strategic evolution, but as a regression to old, rejected habits. The APC argues that by joining the ADC—a party now hosting a coalition of opposition figures including former Vice President Atiku Abubakar—Obi has embraced the politics of “grievance and convenience” he once railed against.
“This is a pivotal moment that strips away the veneer,” Oladejo stated. “The man who positioned himself as the outsider cleansing the stable has now formally entered a coalition many see as a gathering of established political forces. It reveals a pattern where political survival and access to machinery ultimately trump stated convictions.”
Contextualizing the ADC: A “Coalition of Convenience”?
The APC’s characterization of the ADC as a “cartel of convenience” and a platform for “rejected ambitions” is a deliberate attempt to shape public perception ahead of the 2027 elections. This framing seeks to contrast the ADC alliance with the APC’s presentation of itself as a party of governance and “builders.”
Oladejo expanded on this, alleging a history of political inconsistency from Obi: “Even a political neophyte could predict this outcome. His trajectory shows an unwillingness to build or remain within a single party structure consecutively. This isn’t principle; it’s political promiscuity seeking a viable vehicle.”
A Deeper Critique: The Charge of Moral Forfeiture
The APC’s statement escalates beyond typical political rhetoric by questioning the coalition’s stance on national security. The claim that the ADC alliance maintains “silence on terrorism and violent extremism” is a serious charge in the Nigerian context.
“Silence in the face of terror is not neutrality; it is complicity,” Oladejo declared. “This is deliberate and dangerous. Any group that cannot unequivocally denounce violence against citizens has, in our view, forfeited the moral right to seek leadership.” This argument aims to shift the discourse from mere political maneuvering to one of patriotic responsibility.
The APC’s Counter-Narrative: Governance vs. Politics
In positioning its own administration, the APC statement emphasizes a dichotomy: while opponents engage in “propaganda and wishful failure,” the Tinubu government is focused on the hard work of “economic stabilisation, dismantling criminal networks, and restoring investor confidence.” This is the core of the APC’s 2027 strategy—to present itself as the serious party of governance, contrasting with what it labels a coalition of “professional complainers” and “political tourists.”
Oladejo concluded with a confident prediction: “Nigerians have seen these hurried alliances before. The future belongs to patriots and builders. The Renewed Hope Agenda is irreversible and will withstand any political weapons fashioned against it.”
Analysis: The Strategic Stakes of the Defection
Beyond the fiery language, this reaction highlights the high stakes of Obi’s move. For the APC, successfully tagging the ADC coalition as an unprincipled “vomit” of old politics is crucial to weakening its appeal, particularly among the youth and disillusioned voters who backed Obi in 2023 as an anti-establishment figure. The defection represents a significant realignment in Nigerian opposition politics, and the APC’s aggressive response is a pre-emptive strike in the narrative war for 2027.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Mr. Peter Obi, the 2023 Labour Party presidential candidate, formally defected to the ADC on Wednesday, joining other opposition leaders in a bid to challenge President Bola Tinubu’s re-election campaign.
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Edited by Buhari Bolaji
Source: NAN News
