Supporters of former Labour Party presidential candidate Peter Obi have clarified that their criticism of the dollarisation of party primaries and delegate inducement was not aimed at former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, but rather a general statement on the state of Nigerian democracy.
National Coordinator of the Obidient Movement Worldwide, Dr Yunusa Tanko, made the clarification in an interview with The PUNCH, following reports suggesting that Obi’s supporters were reacting to Atiku’s recent comments about the 2027 presidential election.
“We are being misrepresented on this issue. Our position was not a response or attack on former Vice President Atiku Abubakar over his BBC Hausa interview,” Tanko said. “What I said was that in our democracy today, primaries are heavily monetised. It was a general statement. Atiku and Obi have an excellent working relationship.”
Tanko emphasised that Obi’s political philosophy rejects money politics, stressing that he would never participate in a process dominated by vote-buying or dollarised delegate inducement.
“Mr Peter Obi wouldn’t be part of the old order where primaries are heavily monetised. He campaigns for issue-based politics that prioritises good governance, health, education, security, and poverty reduction,” Tanko said. “We have very deep respect for Alhaji Atiku Abubakar.”
Atiku had earlier told BBC Hausa that he would step aside if a younger candidate defeated him at the 2027 ADC presidential primaries, a statement that stirred widespread speculation about his political plans.
“This is only the beginning. Our priority is to establish the party and gain a strong following,” Atiku said. “If I run for office, and a young man defeats me, I will accept that. The party we have joined now prioritises youth and women.”
When asked if he might leave the ADC later, Atiku dismissed the notion, saying, “No, I’m not known for that. If I say so, then I’ll go that way.”
Tanko, however, reiterated that Obi’s movement stands against the monetisation of politics.
“It is a fact that in Nigeria today, delegates in every primary are being purchased, often in dollars and not naira. For those of us who want to inspire younger politicians who don’t have access to public funds, this system must change,” he said.
Former Kaduna Central senator, Shehu Sani, also weighed in on Atiku’s statement, writing on X that it would be difficult for any candidate to defeat Atiku in a primary contest.
“The keyword here is PRIMARIES. It’s easier for a camel to pass through the hole of a needle than to beat the Waziri in primaries. Party delegates are a special breed of people,” Sani wrote.
