Supporters of Peter Obi, known as “Obidients,” say the relationship between Obi and his former running mate Atiku Abubakar remains amicable, even as tensions mount over the ADC presidential ticket.
National Coordinator of the Obidient Movement Worldwide, Obi’s cult-like followership, Dr Yunusa Tanko, made the clarification in an exclusive interview with The PUNCH.
He said, “We are being misrepresented on this issue. Our position was not a response or attack on former Vice President Atiku Abubakar over his BBC Hausa interview.
“What I said was that in our democracy today, primaries are heavily monetised. It is a general statement. Of course, Atiku and Obi have an excellent working relationship. In fact, most times, when he discusses with Obi, he will talk about working today.
“Mr Peter Obi wouldn’t be part of the old order where primaries are heavily monetised.
This is something he always campaigns against. Primaries are based on discussion of objectivity and issue-based politics that will send and change the narrative of our politics from what we have to that of good governance that will involve health, education, security and pulling people out of poverty.
“Those are the basic issues that should be debated at every primary. That is how it is done in the developed world, and it is what Obi continues to preach. We have very deep respect for Alhaji Atiku Abubakar.”
Tanko’s clarification comes in the wake of earlier remarks by Atiku that he was prepared to step down from the 2027 presidential race if he was defeated at the primaries by a younger candidate.
The Obidients coordinator had insisted that his principal would never be caught in the murky politics of vote-buying or dollarised delegate inducement that dominate Nigeria’s primaries.
According to him, Obi’s political ideology stood in sharp contrast to the transactional politics that politicians had normalised.
He said, “Obi is willing to bring new political ideology into the system. I can say it authoritatively that an Obi will never go into a primary election where he has to buy out the delegates. We know that is the norm in other camps.
“It is a fact that in Nigeria of today, delegates in every primary are being purchased. It is even in dollars and not naira. And for those of us who want to give hope to the younger generation who may not have stolen or receive so much money from governor’s purse, how do you encourage them?”
Atiku had sparked the row after telling BBC Hausa on Wednesday that he would step aside if a younger aspirant defeated him at the ADC primaries.
Although some have speculated that Atiku and Obi’s alliance may fracture over ticket decisions, Obidients affirmed continuing respect and collaboration.
The matter is crucial ahead of Nigeria’s 2027 poll, as ADC’s internal unity and alliances will influence its electoral strength.
