Bayo Onanuga, presidential spokesperson, has dismissed claims by Peter Obi’s media team suggesting President Bola Tinubu is linked to the ongoing crisis within the African Democratic Congress (ADC), describing the accusations as “sheer baloney.”
In a statement, Onanuga questioned why “incompetent politicians” continue to make Tinubu the target of their frustrations. He argued that the ADC leadership problems and Obi’s abandonment of the Labour Party (LP) are entirely self-inflicted.
“After using the Labour Party to vie for the highest office in the country, Obi dumped it in a classic case of use-and-dump. He failed to demonstrate leadership in resolving the party’s crisis,” Onanuga said.
He added that Obi turned to the so-called Obidient movement, which, according to him, is active online, instead of building an organic political party.
Onanuga added that Obi later aligned with a “hijacked” ADC, acquired by former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar from Ralph Nwosu, but allegedly without due diligence, creating the current turmoil.
“Whatever problem they have is self-inflicted. Obi and his co-travellers need to get their acts together, clear the mess in their new party, and then compete for the presidential ticket,” the presidential spokesperson said.
Onanuga also noted that President Tinubu, as the incumbent, is not responsible for the ADC crisis.
He argued that Tinubu’s achievements remain unmatched and that claims suggesting otherwise are attempts to “besmirch his democratic credentials.”
“As of now, Obi, without being made a candidate, is inconsequential for 2027. The fact that he came third in 2023 does not guarantee the same showing in 2027, if he ever becomes a candidate of any party. First things first. Let the man become a candidate first,” Onanuga added.
