Obi’s Leap To ADC ‘Politics Trapped By Ambition’ — Presidency

The Presidency has criticised former Labour Party presidential candidate, Peter Obi, over his defection to the African Democratic Congress, describing the move as a reflection of “a politics trapped by ambition.”

In a post on his X handle yesterday, special adviser to the president on media and communication, Sunday Dare, said Obi’s latest political move neither surprised observers nor altered the political landscape, insisting it merely confirmed what he described as a long-standing pattern of inconsistency.

According to Dare, Obi’s switch to the ADC failed to generate momentum or clarity, adding that it marked “the end of a recycled political script” rather than the beginning of a serious political project.

He accused the former Anambra State governor of repeatedly attacking President Bola Tinubu instead of offering constructive engagement or policy-driven opposition.

Dare said, “Mr Obi once again chose provocation over substance, indignation over understanding and accusation over evidence,” describing the approach as habitual rather than courageous.

The presidential aide also criticised Obi’s frequent movement across political parties, noting that his journey from APGA to PDP, Labour Party and now ADC showed lack of ideological consistency.

“Political platforms have become mere conveniences for him, boarded and abandoned at will. There is no enduring belief system, only ambition in search of the next ladder,” Dare said.

He further faulted Obi’s record in office, arguing that while the former governor projected a moral image, his administration left behind little in terms of enduring institutional legacies.

On national governance issues, Dare claimed Obi’s interventions on the economy, security and public finance revealed a shallow understanding of complex policy challenges, often reducing structural issues to slogans and moral arguments.

Referring to the 2023 presidential election, the Presidency said Obi misjudged public sentiment by confusing social media enthusiasm with nationwide political structure, adding that electoral success required organisation, coalition-building and discipline.

Dare also recalled Obi’s post-election legal challenge, saying the Supreme Court had rebuked him for failing to demonstrate a clear grasp of his own vote figures while disputing official results.

“To challenge an election without facts or preparation is not principled opposition; it is political irresponsibility,” he said.

The presidential aide argued that Nigeria required leaders with institutional memory, experience and a disciplined understanding of power, qualities he said were absent from Obi’s political record.

By contrast, Dare said President Tinubu was focused on governance, delivering measurable outcomes through reforms shaped by decades of political and executive experience.

“In that context, the political horizon is no longer murky. 2027 just got clearer,” Dare declared.

He suggested that Obi’s current political path offered no viable alternative for national leadership, adding, “See you all in 2031.”