The Abuja coordinator of the Obi-Kwankwaso (OK) Movement, Mallam Jabir Ibrahim Yaro, has given detailed reasons behind the exit of Peter Obi and Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso from the African Democratic Congress (ADC), pointing to internal party crises, alleged external interference, and strategic political considerations.
Speaking in an exclusive interview, Yaro argued that Nigeria’s opposition parties are currently facing deep challenges.
“First of all, as you know, in Nigeria, opposition parties are actually in trouble or in danger because of the current administration, because there is no single opposition party, as it is now, that is clean and without any internal crisis.”
He went further to suggest that powerful forces are behind the instability.
“And we all know the people behind all the crises in the opposition parties, including the ADC.”
Yaro also linked Obi’s decision to recent legal developments, particularly a Supreme Court ruling, which he described as risky.
“Secondly, if you look at the recent judgment of the Supreme Court, you should know that it is a trap. This is my personal opinion. I’m not a barrister, but it is a trap because the Supreme Court referred the case back to the Federal High Court.”
He expressed distrust in the lower court system, making a strong allegation:
And you know who is in charge of the High Court. You know what has been happening in our judiciary in this country.”
Answering questions on who he believes controls the lower courts, Yaro said: “Actually, a minister is allegedly controlling the High Court.”
Yaro cited alleged benefits given to judges as part of his claim.
Recently, they built houses for them in the FCT, they gave them land, you know, they bought cars for them and the rest.”
“So there is no way you should be expecting something positive to come out of the Federal High Court when people like them are in charge.”
According to him, internal issues within the ADC also played a major role.
“Then, secondly, there are internal crises in the ADC. From the very first day of this coalition, they made it very clear that everything would be transparent,” he told DAILY POST.
“They said there would be direct primaries, that there would be transparent primaries or consensus,” he said.
He, however, claimed that the promises were not kept.
“But as we are going, we have learned that there is an individual who is trying to hijack the party and stop everyone from expressing their own interests.”
Yaro insisted that Obi and his supporters are focused on the presidency, not a vice-presidential role.
“We are not ready to settle for any vice-presidential position. We are going to contest for the presidency.”
He dismissed claims that such a stance is selfish.
“It is not selfish.”
He added that Obi’s political movement has strong grassroots backing.
He said, “You know that in 2023, many people died because of Peter Obi. They died because of his ambition.
“Many people are in politics because of him,” he claimed.
Yaro also spoke about regional power balance and ongoing coalition tensions.
“It is the turn of Southern Nigeria. Let them complete their tenure,” he argued further.
He criticised another unnamed aspirant within the coalition:
Every election cycle, the same man who is trying to get the ADC ticket is the one insisting that he must get that ticket.
“If so, he cannot win an election. Why must it always be him? Why can’t he support these people?”
On the role of vice president, Yaro downplayed its importance in Nigeria’s political system.
“We all know the VP is just a ceremonial position in this country.
“Look at what is happening now. It is just ceremonial.
“And up till now, since Tinubu became president, they have never handed over this country to the vice president.”
Recall that Peter Obi had, on Sunday, announced his resignation from the ADC over internal party issues. He officially decamped to the Nigerian Democratic Congress (NDC).
A few hours after Obi’s announcement, Kwankwaso joined him in the party and announced his exit from the ADC.
There are strong indications that both Obi and Kwankwaso will run under a joint ticket in 2027.
