In a statement issued on Wednesday, the Special Adviser to President Bola Tinubu on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, said Obi is likely to emerge once again as the running mate to former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, similar to what happened during the 2019 presidential election.
Onanuga made the remarks shortly after Obi officially announced his departure from the Labour Party and joined the ADC during a political gathering in Enugu, alongside several leaders from the South-East region.
According to the presidential spokesman, Obi’s defection does not represent a new political direction but rather a return to what he described as a familiar pattern of playing a secondary role within opposition coalitions.
“I watched Peter Obi leave the Labour Party, where he pursued an ill-fated presidential ambition, only to resurface in the ADC. This is a path that will once again lead him to play second fiddle, ending up as Atiku Abubakar’s running mate in 2027, just as Nigerians saw in 2019,” Onanuga said.
He further criticised Obi’s leadership credentials, questioning his suitability for national leadership. Onanuga argued that Obi’s public record does not qualify him to lead the country beyond his experience in business.
The presidential aide also accused Obi of deliberately ignoring what he described as achievements recorded by the current administration, claiming that the former Anambra State governor has remained consistently critical without offering constructive alternatives.
“Obi appears unwilling to acknowledge progress made under this administration. Instead, he continues to jump from one political platform to another while positioning himself for a deputy role,” he added.
Peter Obi, who was the Labour Party’s presidential flag bearer in the 2023 election, has remained a prominent opposition figure, particularly among young voters and urban supporters.
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