“Abacha more democratic than Tinubu,” says Peter Obi as he criticises ruling political class

Labour Party presidential candidate Peter Obi on Thursday criticised President Bola Tinubu and figures linked to the former pro-democracy movement NADECO, saying Nigeria’s present political reality reflects a reversal of the values they once claimed to defend.

In a post on X, Obi argued that Nigeria’s military-era ruler, General Sani Abacha, would appear “more democratic” than some of those who opposed him during military rule.

“Yesterday defenders of democracy, today’s destroyers. What a shame. What an irony of history, that the acclaimed defenders of democracy and human rights who claimed to have fought for democracy during the era of General Sani Abacha now find themselves worse than the man they opposed,” he wrote.

NADECO, formed in 1994, brought together political leaders and activists campaigning against military rule, including several prominent national figures and members of what later became influential political networks.

Obi’s comments came amid ongoing tensions around the leadership crisis in the African Democratic Congress (ADC), where competing factions are disputing control of the party structure.

The Independent National Electoral Commission Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) recently said it would not recognise any factional leadership of the party until the courts resolve the dispute. The commission referenced a Court of Appeal decision and directed that the status quo be maintained while proceedings continue at the Federal High Court in Abuja.

The dispute involves rival camps led by former Senate President David Mark and factional actor Nafiu Gombe, both claiming legitimacy within the party’s structure.

The crisis began in mid-2025 following a split in the ADC National Working Committee, triggering court actions over leadership succession and internal constitutional interpretation. The Court of Appeal recently dismissed an appeal challenging the Federal High Court’s jurisdiction, allowing the substantive case to proceed.

INEC has urged all parties to respect ongoing judicial processes and avoid actions that could complicate preparations for the 2027 general elections.