Babachir Lawal, a chieftain of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) and former Secretary to the Government of Nigeria, has accused Peter Obi of betrayal following his defection from the party.
In an exclusive interview with Arise News, Lawal expressed deep disappointment over Obi’s recent exit from the ADC, recounting how he had supported him throughout the 2023 election cycle. According to Lawal, Obi’s departure amounted to the former governor “throwing away” his support.
“I was never a member of the Labour Party. My support for Peter Obi was rooted in shared political goals at that time, not personal loyalty,” Lawal said. “He threw away my support. It wasn’t me who left, it was him.”
Lawal went on to express his disillusionment with Obi’s commitment to the ADC, suggesting that the former governor had always been hesitant to fully embrace the party’s vision. “We never felt his heart was in it,” Lawal remarked, emphasizing that the party had gone to great lengths to accommodate Obi, even offering him significant influence over key party positions.
“We offered him the chance to bring in whoever he wanted to help drive the party’s processes, a gesture we never extended to anyone else,” Lawal explained. “But despite this, he remained distant, and now he has left the party.”
“Obi’s defection will undoubtedly have an impact, but we remain committed to our ideological framework and long-term vision,” Lawal insisted, though it is clear that internal party dynamics are far from stable.
Reaffirming his loyalty to the ADC, Lawal rejected any suggestion of aligning with Obi again. “I can’t go and do anti-party just because Peter Obi is tall, short, or educated,” he said, stressing that his commitment was to the ADC’s long-term vision and not to individual figures who abandon the party.
