Dele Momodu, a chieftain of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), has disclosed that Peter Obi turned down his advice to form a political alliance with former Vice President Atiku Abubakar ahead of the 2027 general elections. Momodu stated that Obi, the presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), claimed he was more popular than Atiku.
Momodu's Advice and Global Examples
Speaking during an interview on Symfoni TV on Monday, June 8, 2026, as reported by The Punch, Momodu said he urged Obi to consider working with Atiku to defeat the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC). He cited examples from Ghanaian and American politics to illustrate the benefits of political alliances. Momodu referenced how John Mahama, as vice president to Atta Mills, later became president of Ghana, and how Joe Biden, despite being older than Barack Obama, returned to win the presidency after serving as vice president.
Obi's Response
According to Momodu, Obi responded by asserting that he commands greater popularity than Atiku. Momodu recounted, "I told Peter, 'Try and work with Atiku.' I gave him copious examples... but Peter told me that he's more popular than Atiku. I swear to God. If you see him, ask him if I lied against him."
Labour Party's Warning
Earlier, the Labour Party had cautioned the NDC's Dickson against forming an alliance with Peter Obi. Labour Party chairman Abure accused Obi's supporters of seeking to control political parties and advised Dickson to prioritize loyalty and avoid repeating past mistakes with Obi's followers.
Political Analyst's Criticism
In a related development, political analyst Tunde Simon criticized South-East political actors for undermining Peter Obi's movement ahead of the 2027 elections. He noted that the exclusion of Uchenna Harris Okonkwo raised concerns about loyalty and integrity within the South-East political elite, warning that betrayal and exclusion threaten the future of political reform in the region.
