By Segun Otokiti
WorldStage– The National Publicity Secretary of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Bolaji Abdullahi, has disclosed that former Nigeria’s Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi, once threatened to leave the opposition coalition because he believed the party leadership was pampering and giving preferential treatment to former Labour Party presidential candidate, Peter Obi.
Abdullahi disclosed this during an interview with Symfoni TV on Thursday, April 14, 2026 amid growing conversations regarding internal power dynamics within the coalition ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Amaechi reportedly confronted the ADC National Chairman, David Mark, accusing the party leadership of making too many concessions and yielding excessive control to Peter Obi’s camp.
To illustrate the extent of Obi’s influence within the coalition, Abdullahi noted that one of his own deputies was nominated by Obi, and the highly influential position of National Organising Secretary was also given to Obi’s faction.
“There was a time Amaechi went to ADC national chairman David Mark and was threatening to leave the party because the ADC was pampering Peter Obi and that he was conceding everything to Obi,” Abdullahi said.
“I had two deputies under me, and one was nominated by Peter Obi. Amaechi and Atiku can’t point at anybody they nominated in the NWC. The national organising secretary was a Peter Obi man.
“Before Obi joined the coalition, we had other people like Osita Chidoka working hard for the coalition building.
“He was hoping to be the national organising secretary, but when Obi came, and in order to give him a sense of belonging, we gave that position to Obi to nominate someone.
“And there are several other people holding party positions that he nominated. That was how we lost Osita.”
Abdullahi said the ADC leadership deliberately made concessions to Obi, believing that inclusiveness was necessary for coalition politics.
“Many questioned why we gave Obi such privileges, but it’s because we recognised that politics is a game of additions, and if we have to make some concessions that are not going to kill anybody, then we have to make them,” he said.
“So, if anybody should be complaining of a toxic environment or marginalisation within the party, I don’t think it should be Obi.”
He further dismissed claims that the ADC is being controlled by former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar.
“Obi and Kwankwaso probably yielded to the propaganda that ADC is an Atiku party. That is simply not true,” he said.
Abdullahi also criticised the current administration, accusing governors of “criminal diversion” of federal allocation funds for President Tinubu’s re-election campaign.
“Governors are diverting funds from the federation account for a presidential campaign. That is a shameless and criminal act,” he said.
He further criticised the judiciary, alleging that some government agents had compromised public trust in the institution.
“Some government agents have turned the judiciary into a disgrace. The people no longer trust it — they see it as an extension of the federal government,” he said.
The spokesperson shared this information while reacting to Obi’s decision to exit the alliance for the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC).
Abdullahi argued that Obi lacked the moral standing to complain about marginalisation, as he had enjoyed more privileges than any other leader in the coalition.
Despite these historical internal frictions, both Rotimi Amaechi and other major political stakeholders like former Vice President Atiku Abubakar have submitted their ADC presidential nomination forms to contest the party’s ticket for the 2027 elections.
