•Tanko
National Coordinator, The Obidient Movement, Yusuf Tanko, has said that the defection of Peter Obi and other politicians to the Action Democratic Congress (ADC) has sparked anxiety within the government in power ahead of the 2027 election.
Tanko said this during an interview on Channels Television today.
“As far as I am concerned, a lot of people who have seen what has transpired within the short period of time, the movement, the political party, how Peter Obi came into the party and mobilised people into the party, Alhaji Musa Rabiu Kwankwaso mobilising, more people are coming, that of course scared the government in power.
“I find it difficult to understand, the government that has already been able to get 31 or 32 state governors behind him, why should he be afraid of running for a free and fair election”, he said.
He argued that the groundwork for a free and fair election isn’t in place, questioning the processes established by INEC.
“The checkmating or the funding that is needed, or the candidate who may not have the money to bribe and pay for votes to win the election.”
”All of these processes were made in such a way that it is difficult for normal political parties to win elections, and in this situation, even those who are trying to go beyond that are being strangulated, just like the case in the ADC,” he said.
He stated that despite efforts to present the process as seamless and free, there are moves to impose a one-party state and sideline candidates from contesting elections.
He, however, advised the ruling party to focus its strength on delivering its promise to the people.
“Democracy is about the people, and the people are saying this is the way we want to go; you can’t deny us, and there are more in the population.
“The more you try to hold them down, the angrier they get. I don’t know whether the strategic department of the government knows these. The more you get the people angry, the more you lose them”, he said.
Defections
The Labour Party’s presidential candidate in the 2023 election, Peter Obi, along with other political leaders from the South-East geopolitical zone, officially defected to ADC last year.
The leaders gathered in Enugu, the capital of Enugu State, to make the declaration.
Those present at the event included former Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Emeka Ihedioha; Senators Ben Obi, Victor Umeh, Tony Nwoye, and Gilbert Nnaji;
Chief Onyema Ugochukwu, Enyinnya Abaribe, Senator Sam Egwu, as well as several other Senators and members of the House of Representatives.
A former presidential candidate of the New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP), Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, formally defected to ADC last month
Also present at the event were chieftains of the ADC and a crowd of supporters, mainly from the Kwankwasiyya Movement.
