Sunday May 3, 2026
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Special Adviser on Information and Strategy to President Bola Tinubu, Bayo Onanuga, has taken aim at former Labour Party presidential candidate Peter Obi following his confirmation that he has left the African Democratic Congress (ADC), a party he joined after exiting the Labour Party.

Reacting in a social media post on Sunday, Onanuga portrayed Obi’s latest move as part of a recurring pattern, accusing the former Anambra State governor of frequently changing political direction.

“We told you so. The political nomad is on the move again,” Onanuga wrote, dismissing Obi’s explanation for his decision.

“Ignore all those puerile reasons he gave in these illogical musings, a self-serving letter to his mob.”

He further criticised Obi’s political strategy, alleging that he avoids strong competition within party structures.

“Peter Obi is a politician made of jelly, an opportunistic fellow. He can’t fight Atiku Abubakar or Rotimi Amaechi for the ticket,” he said.

“He pursues the easy road, that will only lead him to doom, like in 2023.

Onanuga also accused Obi of deflecting responsibility, saying he often directs blame at the government rather than reflecting on his own actions.

“He always blames the government without doing a soul-searching of himself. Welcome, Peter to the 2027 race,” Onanuga said.

Earlier on Sunday, Obi publicly confirmed his departure from the ADC.

In a lengthy message shared on X, the former governor said he felt compelled to speak on what he described as the hidden struggles faced by public figures operating under difficult conditions.

“Fellow Nigerians, good morning. I woke up this morning after my church service with a deeply reflective heart, and despite every constraint, I felt compelled to share these thoughts with you,” he wrote.

He said many people do not understand “the silent pains some of us carry daily—the private struggles, emotional burdens, and quiet battles we face while trying to survive and serve sincerely in difficult circumstances.”

Obi also decried what he described as a worsening national climate, where institutions meant to support citizens instead contribute to their hardship.

“We now live in an environment that has become increasingly toxic, where the very system that should protect and create opportunities for decent living often works against the people,” he said, adding that intimidation, insecurity, scrutiny, and discouragement had become widespread.

He further lamented what he called betrayal and criticism from within political and social circles.

“More painful is when some of those you associate with, believing you would find understanding and solidarity among them, become part of the pressure you face,” he said, adding that some who publicly associate with him “privately distance themselves or join in unfair criticism.”

Obi said humility is often misinterpreted in Nigerian society.

He insisted he has always tried to treat people equally, saying: “Personally, I have never looked down on anyone except to uplift them. I have never used privilege, position, or resources to oppress others, intimidate the weak, or make people feel small. To me, leadership has always been about service, sacrifice, and helping others rise.”

Addressing speculation surrounding his political moves, Obi clarified that his exit from the ADC was not due to personal grievances with party leadership.

“Let me state clearly: my decision to leave the ADC is not because our highly respected Chairman, Senator David Mark, treated me badly, nor because my leader and elder brother, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, or any other respected leaders did anything personally wrong to me. I will continue to respect them,” he said.

However, he attributed his decision to what he described as external interference and internal instability within the party.

“However, the same Nigerian state and its agents that created unnecessary crises and hostility within the Labour Party that forced me to leave now appear to be finding their way into the ADC, with endless court cases, internal battles, suspicion, and division, instead of focusing on deeper national problems and playing politics built more on control and exclusion than on service and nation-building,” he stated.

Obi also said he has often come under attack even when attempting to disengage peacefully from political spaces.

“And when you choose to leave so that those you are leaving can have peace, and you step out into the cold, you are still maligned and your character is questioned,” he said.

“Despite all your efforts to continue working for a better Nigeria and engaging people with sincerity and goodwill, those who do not wish you well continue to attack your character and question your intentions.”

He added that he often reflects on societal values, questioning why integrity is misunderstood and why prudence in managing resources attracts criticism.

Obi maintained that his motivation is not driven by the pursuit of political office.

“Let me assure all that I am not desperate to be President, Vice President, or Senate President,” he said. “I am desperate to see a society that can console a mother whose child has been kidnapped or killed while going to school or work. I am desperate to see a Nigeria where people will not live in IDP camps but in their homes. I am desperate for a country where Nigerian citizens do not go to bed hungry, not knowing where their next meal will come from.”

Meanwhile, former Kano State governor, Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, has also weighed in on developments within the ADC, confirming that he has begun consultations with the National Democratic Congress (NDC) and other political platforms amid speculation of possible defections.

In a statement released late Saturday, Kwankwaso said the ADC had been pushed into a difficult position following a series of unfavourable legal outcomes.
*Platinum Post