“Saying Peter Obi Is the Best Among Atiku, Amaechi Is an Insult to Other Leaders in the ADC” — Dele Momodu

A chieftain of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Dele Momodu, has criticised supporters of former Anambra State governor, Peter Obi, over claims that Obi is the best among political leaders within the ADC coalition ahead of the 2027 presidential election.

Momodu said such assertions undermine other prominent figures in the coalition and create unnecessary division within the party.

He made the remarks during an appearance on Channels Television while responding to comments by rights activist Aisha Yesufu and economist Pat Utomi, both supporters of Obi. The duo had suggested that their backing for the ADC coalition could be reconsidered if Obi is not selected as the party’s presidential candidate.

Yesufu had described Obi as the best among the coalition’s political figures and argued that he should not be made to take a secondary role. Utomi had earlier expressed a similar view.

Reacting, Momodu said describing Obi as superior to other leaders in the ADC amounts to an insult to those with long-standing political experience in the coalition. He questioned the basis on which some supporters classify political figures as “the best” or “the worst,” describing such language as dismissive and divisive.

He noted that the ADC coalition includes several experienced politicians, pointing to former Vice President Atiku Abubakar as a key figure based on his long involvement in national politics. Momodu recalled that Atiku has been active in presidential contests since the early 1990s, including his role in the 1993 election process.

Momodu also referenced other members of the coalition, including former Rivers State governor and minister, Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi, and former Kaduna State governor, Nasir El-Rufai. He highlighted Amaechi’s experience as a former Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly, a two-term governor, and a minister, while describing El-Rufai as a notable intellectual presence within the party.

He rejected any portrayal of Atiku as a weak or undesirable aspirant, noting that the former vice president left office in 2007 and has remained active in business and public affairs since then.

Momodu further dismissed warnings by Utomi about withdrawing support from the coalition if Obi is not chosen as the party’s candidate, saying such statements amount to pressure tactics rather than constructive engagement.

While acknowledging Obi’s popularity and influence, Momodu said the ADC is a collective political project that cannot revolve around one individual. He stressed that Nigeria’s political system does not allow for independent candidacy and that cooperation among all coalition members is essential.

He concluded by cautioning against narratives that place one aspirant above others, describing Obi as a significant political figure but insisting that presenting him as superior to figures like Atiku and Amaechi is unfair to the rest of the coalition.