The Lagos State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has accused former Anambra State Governor, Mr Peter Obi, of lacking political sincerity following his defection to the African Democratic Congress (ADC), alleging that he has already agreed to serve as a running mate ahead of the 2027 general election.
THE WHISTLER reports that Obi, former Labour Party (LP) presidential candidate in the 2023 general elections, formally defected to the ADC on Wednesday.
In a statement issued on Wednesday, the Lagos APC described Obi’s move to the ADC as the formal unveiling of what it termed a coalition of grievances allegedly assembled to destabilise the country rather than offer credible governance alternatives.
The statement, signed by the party’s spokesman, Seye Oladejo, claimed that Obi’s defection did not represent political growth but rather confirmed a pattern of convenience politics.
The party further alleged that Obi had long been part of discussions within the coalition and that his eventual defection only ended what it called a “pretence of independence.”
The APC charged Obi to openly inform his supporters that, according to the party, he has already agreed in principle to be a vice-presidential candidate to a presidential aspirant, even before the formal unveiling of the coalition.
“This so-called coalition was conceived with a sole beneficiary in mind – process be damned, zoning suspended, internal democracy euthanised. The loud pretence of moral purity has collapsed under the weight of naked ambition. The hypocrisy is now official,” the statement alleged.
“Nigerians cannot but wonder when Mr. Peter Obi will summon the courage to inform his handful of sympathizers that he has already agreed in principle to serve as a running mate to a pre-determined, perennial presidential candidate – a political factory-reset decision taken even before the coalition’s public unveiling. In this arrangement, consultation is cosmetic, participation is decorative, and ambition is centrally allocated.”
The ruling party also criticised the ADC, describing it as a platform for recycled ambitions and electoral failures, while insisting that the coalition lacks ideology and internal democracy.
Beyond political realignments, the APC raised concerns over what it described as the coalition’s failure to clearly condemn terrorism and violent extremism in the country, accusing its leaders of maintaining silence for political convenience. According to the party, any political group unwilling to unequivocally denounce terrorism lacks the moral standing to seek national leadership.
The Lagos APC contrasted the opposition’s actions with what it said were the achievements of the APC-led Federal Government under President Bola Tinubu, citing economic stabilisation efforts, the dismantling of criminal networks, institutional reforms, and steps to restore investor confidence.
The party accused the emerging coalition of weaponising national challenges, spreading misinformation, and hoping for Nigeria’s failure in order to gain political capital ahead of 2027.
Reaffirming confidence in the APC’s prospects, the party said the Renewed Hope Agenda of the Tinubu administration remains “irreversible” and expressed optimism that Nigerians would reject what it described as desperation-driven alliances at the polls.
“At the polls, Nigerians will once again rise above deception and decisively reject their nemesis.
“The future belongs to builders, not professional complainers; to patriots, not political tourists; to courage, not cowardly silence in the face of terror,” the statement added.