ADC Grants Obi, El-Rufai Waiver to Remain in LP, SDP

The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has clarified that former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai and the 2023 Labour Party presidential candidate, Peter Obi, would not be required to defect from their current political parties.

The clarification was given by the interim National Publicity Secretary of the ADC, Bolaji Abdullahi, during a phone interview.

Abdullahi remarks came a day after the party’s interim National Chairman, David Mark, issued warning in Abuja, vowing that his leadership would not tolerate anti-party conduct or indiscipline within the party ranks.

Mark had declared: “There will be zero tolerance for anti-party and any form of indiscipline; you are either in ADC or not in ADC. No mid-way in this business, and those not with us, we will not carry them along.”

However, Obi’s supporters dismissed concerns raised by Mark’s comments, maintaining that the former Anambra State governor had already made his stance clear to the coalition leadership.

The National Coordinator of the Obidient Movement Worldwide, Dr Yunusa Tanko, said, “Even before we got into the issue of the coalition, our principal has made his position known ab initio, that he is still a Labour man and the coalition that he joined is for 2027.

“Obi actually made that clear when the coalition was at the formation stage. So we don’t see it as anything because we already made our position known right from the beginning.”

When asked to confirm Tanko’s position, Abdullahi agreed, noting that concession had been granted to both Obi and El-Rufai, allowing them to remain in their respective parties for now.

He explained: “Absolutely! Obi is correct. This applies to himself and Nasir (El-Rufai). This is because their supporters and allies have obtained forms to contest the election in their legacy parties.

“So we cannot ask them to defect. It will affect the structures of those following them. They were therefore granted a concession to remain in their parties until after the election.

“In a nutshell, they requested a concession and they were granted.”

In a related development, Obi has disassociated himself from viral statements circulating on social media, which claimed he has either rejoined the Peoples Democratic Party or been offered a national role within the ADC.

His media aide, Umar Ibrahim, issued a press statement on Wednesday to address the issue.

He said, “Peter Obi has been unequivocal in his position in the ongoing coalition and didn’t need anyone to put words into his mouth.”

“He has remained focused on his mission but would not accept anybody attributing a statement to him just to satisfy their devious agenda.”

Despite ongoing political speculations surrounding his next move, Obi reiterated his commitment to building what he described as “a new Nigeria of our dreams.”