Obi Was Never Fully Committed to ADC — Lawal

Babachir Lawal, a former Secretary to the Government of the Federation and senior figure in the African Democratic Congress (ADC), has said that Peter Obi never showed full commitment to the party during his time as a member.

Lawal made the remarks on Tuesday during a televised interview, shortly after Obi and Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso exited the ADC to join the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC). Both politicians had cited ongoing internal disputes and legal challenges within the ADC as reasons for their departure.

Responding to the development, Lawal said Obi joined the party’s coalition efforts late and appeared disengaged from its internal structure from the outset. According to him, party leaders made specific concessions to secure Obi’s confidence, including allowing him to nominate the party’s organising secretary—an offer not extended to other members.

He explained that the move was intended to reassure Obi about the transparency of the party’s processes, given the central role of the organising secretary in managing internal electoral activities. Despite this, Lawal said doubts about Obi’s level of commitment persisted.

Lawal also suggested that Obi’s exit may be linked to a reluctance to participate in competitive party primaries. He argued that a democratic system requires open contests and maintained that no aspirant should expect automatic consensus candidacy.

Describing the ADC as a party with multiple influential figures and competing ambitions, Lawal said its leadership remains focused on ensuring equal opportunities for all members.

He further addressed questions about his previous political alignment with Obi during the 2023 elections, clarifying that his support at the time was based on shared objectives rather than long-term loyalty. Lawal noted that he was not a member of the Labour Party during that period.

Lawal added that his political career is driven by personal convictions and predates his association with Obi. He rejected suggestions that Obi’s departure from the ADC should influence his own political decisions.