Chille Igbawua, a close adviser to former Senate President David Mark who now chairs the African Democratic Congress (ADC), has openly criticized Peter Obi’s recent defection from the party. Igbawua, who serves on the ADC’s electoral panel, argued that Obi missed a valuable chance to test his political mettle in a competitive primary.
Speaking during a television interview, Igbawua suggested that Obi would have gained crucial political insights even if he ultimately lost the nomination to former Vice President Atiku Abubakar. He stressed that the ADC primary offered a level playing field for all contenders, emphasizing the coalition’s original mission to rescue Nigeria—not to serve individual ambitions.
Igbawua highlighted vote tallies from Benue State as evidence of the primary’s fairness: Atiku secured approximately 55,000 votes, followed by Rotimi Amaechi with around 30,000, and Mohammed Hayatu-Deen with about 22,000. He noted that he had been involved in building the coalition from its inception and selecting ADC as the platform.
When asked whether Obi might feel relieved to leave, Igbawua responded firmly: “I don’t think he can be grateful, and I don’t believe he made the right decision, in my opinion.” He urged political leaders to prioritize national interest over personal gain and to remain within coalitions rather than abandon them when personal needs are not met.
Obi recently exited ADC and has now declared his presidential ambition under the banner of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC). Igbawua’s comments underscore ongoing tensions within Nigeria’s opposition landscape as parties realign ahead of the next general election.