February 01, (THEWILL) — Spokesperson of the African Democratic Congress, ADC, Malam Bolaji Abdullahi has expressed worry about the disruptive influence of the ‘Obi or Nothing’ mantra currently championed by members of the Obidient Movement in support of Peter Obi’s candidacy of the party in the upcoming general poll in 2027. The slogan gathered momentum shortly after the former Labour leader joined the party in December 2025 and the movement formally joined it in January 2026.
Abdullahi warned supporters of Mr. Obi against divisive politics during a live audio on X platform last Saturday in Abuja, pleading with party supporters to avoid what he described as “preaching division and exceptionality” within the coalition. He added that the ‘Obi or nothing’ mantra is not helpful.
Abdullahi is not alone. Even some influential leaders of the movement are bothered too. A source confided in THEWILL on Friday that he has been receiving calls from top members of the OM to “take it easy and slow down,” since he posted the slogan on his X handle four days ago. While the catchword may appear divisive to top members of the party, it is actually a safeguard for the rank and file at the grassroots, investigation has shown.
“What we are seeing and feeling as grassroots members of the ADC is way different from what the top members are seeing. That is why we are unapologetic in using “Obi or nothing,” to draw attention to our concern and seek solution before things get out of control,” sources in the OM told this newspaper on Friday.
Shortly after Obi joined the party and the Obidient Movement followed suit, there was a marked clash of interests between his supporters and those of former Vice President Atiku Abubakar over who should become the party’s presidential candidate for the 2027 general election. The OM also insisted that the party should zone its presidential ticket to the South and make way for Obi to become its chosen one.
Giving some context to the slogan, ex-first lady of Ogun State, Dr. Betty Akeredolu on Friday said, she stands firmly on “Obi or Nothing” mantra, not as a slogan but an “affirmation of values.”
Akeredolu who is eyeing the Imo East Senatorial District ticket on the platform of the ADC in 2027, explained further that the Obidients phenomenon has become both an enigma to Nigeria and a nightmare to politicians who wish to preserve the status quo — a system marked by poor infrastructure, food insecurity, abuse of office, human rights violation, insecurity, corruption, impunity and widespread hardship.
According to her, Peter Obi represents the kind of “leadership that Nigeria urgently needs, anchored on the 3 Cs: Character, Competence, and Capacity.”
She described Obi’s insistence that a single tenure is enough to reset Nigeria as courageous and inspiring. “It tells us that purposeful leadership can deliver meaningful change within four years. I believe him. It is possible, ” she said.
However, THEWILL gathered that the problem is dual in nature. The first is about the current composition of the party, comprising three tendencies slugging it out for dominance and control.
These tendencies are the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, tendency, the Labour Party/OM tendency and the All Progressives Party, APC tendency. Of the three, the PDP is said to be the strongest. As a party with strong links to former President Olusegun Obasanjo, the ADC at foundation had a strong PDP flavour. Defection of the party’s 2023 presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar to the ADC consolidated the PDP’s hold on the party, in addition to the fact that its current Chairman and former President of the Senate, David Mark was once a PDP stalwart. Another tendency is the APC featuring National Secretary and former governor of Osun State, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, currently National Secretary as well as former Transportation Minister, Rotimi Amaechi, former Kaduna governor Nasir el-Rufai, and former National Vice-Chairman of APC, Northwest, Dr. Salihu Lukman and former APC National Chairman, Chief John Odigie Oyegun.
Since he joined the party, Obi and prominent Labour Party lawmakers and chieftains who defected alongside him represent the third, Labour Party/OM tendency.
HOW THE TENDENCIES OPERATE
There is panic in the LP/OM camp over what sources say is the head advantage that the PDP tendencies have over other groups in the party due to association with the pre-David Mark ADC and recent defections. For the LP/OM group which joined the party barely two months ago, following Obi’s defection in December and the OM’s full membership in January, this advantage poses a danger to its interests. As late-comers, the LP/OM members found out that certain positions had been taken by the PDP tendencies before their arrival, even in droves. With party congresses, delegates election and primaries looming ahead of the 2027 general election, the fear in the LP/OM camp heightens.
“What we have discovered since joining the ADC is that the PDP tendencies that got in before us have occupied positions at the state, the local government and the wards levels,” a source told this newspaper on Friday, adding, “If we allow that it means they will win at the congresses, the primaries and get to elect their candidates at the convention. That automatically means Obi will be out.”
In Lagos State for example, OM members who recently defected to the ADC in record numbers to swell the ranks of the party in the state still found it hard to leverage their numbers. They found out that the power sharing formula in many local government areas favoured the PDP tendencies. In some instances where there are, say, 10 slots for exco positions, the PDP will get 4 positions, ADC 3 and LP/OM 2 and other fringe groups 1. In addition, there is also the fear that the current state and local government Chairmen of the party whose tenures are yet to expire are sympathisers of the PDP by virtue of the Obasanjo connection.
In some states, sources recount overwhelming experiences involving meetings at the state and local government levels of the party that are attended by retired military officers, ministers and c toommissions whose tenure spanned the Obasanjo presidency.
ANOTHER CHALLENGE
At another level, the tendencies within the party hardened into political reality when the party some time ago marked the country into four major blocs to hasten mobilisation: The North, South-West, South-East and South-South. Atiku Abubakar, el-Rufai and Lukman were given charge of the North, Aregbesola and Akeredolu, the Southwest, while Ameachi got the South-South and Obi the South-East. But the party soon found out that what was meant to ease mobilisation became an avenue to consolidate interests, leading to the respective chieftains filling available positions with cronies. This bred exclusivity and further increased disputes among the groups.
The recent defections of governors, mainly from the crisis-ridden PDP, has also complicated matters for the ADC in some states. Influential members, some serving officials, some elected lawmakers of the PDP who are still weighing their options, are said to be plotting to appoint their loyalists into the party ahead of eventual defection.
Reacting to the developments, National Coordinator of the OM, Tanko Yinusa told THEWILL that the ‘Obi or Nothing’ slogan is by no means divisive in conception but was being used as a marketing strategy.
He said, “The mantra is more or less a reaction by members that are marketing their product. It is not to antagonise anybody or group. We are trying to sell our candidate, Peter Obi, that is all.”
Yinusa who was quoted a while ago as saying the OM would remain in ADC, even if Obi loses to Atiku Abubakar in the party’s presidential primary, explained that he had since issued a statement to correct the report. What he meant was that “as Obi is not a nomadic politician, political party affairs must be conducted democratically, failing which the OM will review its decision.
“We do not stand for nor will we support the monetisation of any political process. Based on that we will take decisions democratically,” he said.
He disclosed that he had received reports of complaints about marginalisation of OM members in ADC in some states and said the issue was being addressed.
“Yes, there are complaints from our members in some states in the country. But we have also received reports that in many states, the party is working for inclusion. The OM must be accommodated because members have the zeal and tool to rebuild Nigeria for the better. I think the idea behind the party’s recent inauguration of a committee on revalidation, mobilisation and registration is to ensure inclusiveness. Aisha Yesufu is deputy chairman of the committee. We are all working to rebuild the party structure to ensure inclusivity in the process. We do not want anybody working against the interest of any member.”
Felix Ifijeh is a journalist with years of professional reporting experience. Known for his keen news sense, compelling storytelling and commitment to accurate, impactful reporting, he has built a reputation for turning leads into clear, engaging, and well-structured reports that resonate with readers. His work reflects deep newsroom experience and a commitment to accurate, impactful journalism.
