Tinubu’s Spokesman criticises Peter Obi over defection to ADC

By KEMI KASUMU

The Special Adviser to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, has criticised former Labour Party (LP) presidential candidate, Peter Obi, following his defection to the African Democratic Congress (ADC).

Reacting to Obi’s move on Wednesday, December 31, 2025, Onanuga described the former Anambra State governor’s decision as another shift in what he termed a pattern of frequent party changes, noting that Obi had previously moved from the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), the Labour Party, and now the ADC.

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In a statement, Onanuga said Obi appeared dissatisfied with the outcome of the 2023 presidential election, in which he finished third, and continued to insist that he was denied victory. He argued that post-election assessments and analyses of the poll did not support Obi’s claim, adding that the results reflected broader national voting patterns.

Onanuga also took issue with Obi’s public remarks at the event marking his entry into the ADC, particularly his references to academic works, scholars, and development models from other countries. According to the presidential aide, governance challenges in Nigeria require locally tailored solutions rather than the wholesale adoption of policies from other nations.

Defending the performance of the Tinubu administration, Onanuga highlighted several reforms implemented since President Tinubu assumed office on May 29, 2023. He cited the removal of petrol subsidies, economic restructuring to reduce dependence on oil revenue, increased focus on gas development, and efforts to attract foreign and domestic investment. He also pointed to improvements in foreign reserves, relative stability in the exchange rate, a moderation in inflation, and major infrastructure projects such as the Lagos–Calabar and Sokoto–Badagry superhighways.

Onanuga further noted that planned tax reforms expected to begin in January aim to harmonise Nigeria’s tax system, improve revenue generation, and boost economic growth.

Commenting on Obi’s future political prospects, the presidential spokesman suggested that the former Labour Party candidate could play a secondary role within a broader opposition alliance ahead of the 2027 elections, similar to past political arrangements.

Onanuga’s statement in details, “I watched as Peter Obi, the former Labour Party presidential candidate, formally joined the ADC after abandoning the party he had used to pursue his ill-fated presidential ambition.

“About three years after the 2023 election, Obi, the wandering politician — who moved from APGA to PDP to Labour and now ADC — still sounded bitter about coming third. He continues to claim he was robbed of victory, even though empirical analyses of the poll showed he could not have won and was fortunate to even emerge third because of the anomalous polling figures recorded for him in his South East region.

“At his event, Obi’s bitterness was evident. What concerned me most were his references to books, professors, and other nations to buttress his belief that he has learnt from the masters and that Nigeria should be entrusted to him because he claims to know the secrets of national development. This posturing should be taken with a pinch of salt, coming from a politician who was an abysmal failure in a small state like Anambra, which he governed for 8 years.

“Because Obi sorely lacks the leadership pedigree, beyond being a successful importer, only the madman he consults in Onitsha would be comfortable handing over Nigeria to him.

“However, Obi’s reasoning is flawed. Nations are not identical, and what worked in Indonesia or the USA may not necessarily work in Nigeria. No leader can move a country forward by simply copying and pasting models from elsewhere. Nations require original thinkers, not copycats. Homegrown solutions are essential for proper development.

“This is precisely what President Bola Tinubu has been doing since May 29, 2023—a fact that Obi is too consumed by animosity and his small-mindedness to acknowledge. In less than three years, the Tinubu administration has restructured the economy, eliminated wasteful petrol subsidies, and reduced its dependence on the oil sector. The administration is focusing on gas development and has attracted both foreign and local investment to the industry. Foreign reserves have risen, and the exchange rate has stabilised. Inflation is decelerating. The administration has also embarked on ambitious road projects, such as the Lagos-Calabar and Sokoto-Badagry superhighways, which Obi and his associates consider impossible. With tax reforms beginning in January, the Tinubu administration is set to harmonise the historically fragmented tax regime, increase the tax-to-GDP ratio, enhance revenue, and boost prosperity. For the past two years and seven months, Tinubu has demonstrated effective leadership anchored in strategic policies and reforms.

“Obi is so blind that he cannot see all these achievements, as he jumped from Labour to ADC, where he will play second fiddle and end up being Atiku’s running mate in 2027, like we witnessed in 2019.

“In the meantime, following Peter Obi’s defection to the African Democratic Congress (ADC), the Labour Party (LP) is set to adopt Pa. Lamidi Apapa as its Presidential candidate for the 2027 election. Vows to deliver 52million votes across the country.”

“Meanwhile, following Obi’s defection, the Labour Party is reportedly considering Pa Lamidi Apapa as its presidential candidate for the 2027 general election. Party sources said the LP is optimistic about its chances and has vowed to mobilise support nationwide.”