The Special Adviser to President Bola Tinubu on Communication and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, has berated the 2023 presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP), Peter Obi, describing him as “Opportunistic” and “Inconsistent” following remarks suggesting he could leave the African Democratic Congress (ADC).
New Telegraph reports that Obi had, during an appearance on Arise Television’s Prime Time, hinted that he might exit the party if its internal processes were compromised.
Reacting to his remark, Onanuga, who took to his verified X handle, said, “Peter Obi, the peripatetic, opportunistic and inconsistent politician ever to operate in Nigeria, hints that he may leave the ADC, the way he left APGA, PDP and Labour Party. Listen to him.”
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The comment has further heightened tensions in Nigeria’s evolving political landscape ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Responding to the criticism over his history of defections, Obi maintained that his decisions have always been driven by principle rather than personal ambition.
“I don’t have a long time in politics; if I have to move twenty times, I will do it. I cannot be talking about change, I cannot be talking about something new; you cannot use the process of yesterday to build tomorrow,” he said.
Obi also alleged that his exit from the Labour Party was the result of deliberate internal sabotage.
“They put fire in the house, and they were shocked that I was able to escape. They thought I would be there for the fire to burn me,” he stated.
While acknowledging that some former political associates are now his colleagues in the ADC, Obi stressed that what matters is their current conduct and the integrity of the party’s processes.
“What is important is not what people were yesterday, it’s what they are today,” he said, adding that he would not hesitate to speak out or leave if internal processes are compromised.
He reiterated his stance on political accountability, noting that integrity remains non-negotiable in his political journey.
The exchange underscores growing divisions and realignments within opposition and ruling party circles as political actors position themselves ahead of the next election cycle.
