Dele Momodu has expressed the view that Peter Obi would have been better off remaining in the African Democratic Congress (ADC) to test his political strength, rather than defecting.
The Ovation International publisher made this known during an appearance on Channels Television’s The Morning Brief on Wednesday, May 6, while reacting to the recent defection of Obi and Rabiu Kwankwaso to the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC).
According to Momodu, Obi missed a key opportunity to demonstrate his influence within the ADC structure.
He argued that internal party mechanisms such as consensus arrangements or direct primaries would have provided a fair test of Obi’s popularity, noting that in direct primaries, all registered party members participate in voting.
Momodu also suggested that Obi may have stepped aside to avoid a tough contest against Atiku Abubakar, whom he described as a persistent and focused presidential aspirant.
Defending Atiku’s long-standing ambition, Momodu said the former vice president has consistently pursued his goal since the early 1990s, describing such persistence as a defining trait of a serious politician.
He further claimed that Obi faced pressure from his supporters, who were reportedly opposed to him accepting a vice-presidential role under another candidate.
Obi and Kwankwaso officially joined the NDC on Sunday, May 3, during a closed-door meeting with party leaders, where they were received by Seriake Dickson.
Earlier, Obi had explained that his exit from the ADC was due to deepening internal crises, external interference, and rising hostility within the party. He also described Nigeria’s political climate as increasingly tense, citing intimidation, insecurity, and constant scrutiny as major challenges.