Tensions within Nigeria’s opposition space deepened on Tuesday as key figures traded blame over the recent wave of defections from the African Democratic Congress (ADC).
A member of the House of Representatives, Ifeanyi Uzokwe, and an ADC national officer, Oladimeji Fabiyi, offered sharply different explanations for why prominent politicians have been leaving the party.
The fallout follows the high-profile exit of Peter Obi and Rabiu Kwankwaso, along with several lawmakers, who recently switched to the Nigerian Democratic Congress (NDC), citing internal disputes and ongoing court cases within the ADC.
Speaking on a televised programme, Uzokwe argued that the situation was driven by power struggles within the party. He claimed that former Vice President Atiku Abubakar exerted overwhelming influence, creating an environment that pushed others out.
According to him, the coalition that rallied around the ADC was effectively controlled by Atiku, leaving little room for dissenting voices.
Uzokwe went further, blaming what he described as Atiku’s political ambition for destabilising not just the ADC, but previously the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
Fabiyi, however, pushed back strongly against that narrative.
He dismissed the claims as excuses, accusing the defectors of avoiding internal competition. In his view, neither Atiku nor the party’s legal troubles were the real issue.
He argued that leaders like Obi simply chose to walk away instead of confronting challenges within the party, suggesting their decisions were driven more by personal calculations than principle.
The disagreement highlights the growing cracks within the opposition coalition that, less than a year ago, had rallied around the ADC as a platform to challenge President Bola Tinubu ahead of the 2027 elections.
That coalition included several heavyweights among them Atiku, former ministers Rotimi Amaechi and Rauf Aregbesola, as well as ex-Senate President David Mark.
But since then, internal disputes, legal battles, and accusations of external interference have steadily weakened the party’s cohesion.
With defections mounting and rival camps trading accusations, the ADC now faces an uphill task to maintain unity just as the race toward 2027 begins to take shape.
