Former Governor of Sokoto State, Aminu Tambuwal, has dismissed speculations of a crisis within the African Democratic Congress (ADC), insisting that the recent defections of Peter Obi and Rabiu Kwankwaso were personal political decisions rather than evidence of internal cracks in the party.
Obi and Kwankwaso, alongside some federal lawmakers, recently dumped the ADC-led coalition for the National Democratic Congress (NDC), a development that sparked concerns in political circles over possible divisions within the opposition bloc ahead of the general elections.
Speaking during an interview on Channels Television’s Politics Today on Friday, Senator Tambuwal said the departures were motivated by the desire of the politicians to test their electoral strength on another platform.
“I do not believe that it was out of any crack. I believe that they wanted to go to another platform for them to possibly test their popularity with the Nigerian people at the general elections,” he said.
The former Speaker of the House of Representatives also rejected claims that the ADC presidential structure had been tilted in favour of former Vice President Atiku Abubakar.
According to him, neither Obi nor Kwankwaso publicly accused the party of bias or unfair treatment.
“I didn’t hear Governor Peter Obi saying so, I didn’t hear Distinguished Rabiu Kwankwaso saying so,” Tambuwal stated.
“And if it is an assumption of any individual, observers or public commentators, I believe that with Distinguished Senator David Mark on the saddle as chairman of ADC, a level playing field would have been provided.”
Tambuwal further defended the integrity of David Mark, insisting that no member of the coalition could question his credibility or fairness in handling party affairs.
He maintained that all stakeholders were adequately represented within the party structure and denied allegations that any group or individual had been sidelined.
According to him, Peter Obi was given the opportunity to nominate the party’s National Organising Secretary, which he described as one of the most strategic positions in the ADC.
“Former Governor of Anambra State, Peter Obi, was given an opportunity to bring the National Organising Secretary of the party,” he said.
“Tell me who is it that is at the party that is clearly an Atiku person who is manning either the office of the National Chairman, or the National Secretary, or the Organising Secretary or the Legal Adviser of the party that is there.
“But Peter Obi was given National Organising Secretary, the heartbeat, the engine room of the party. And he brought the current National Organising Secretary of the party,” Tambuwal added.