Chieftain of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Dele Momodu, has claimed that former presidential candidate Peter Obi once turned down his advice to work with former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, insisting that he was more popular.
Obi previously served as Atiku’s running mate under the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) during the 2019 presidential election.
He later left the PDP to contest the 2023 presidential election under the Labour Party, where he came third behind Atiku Abubakar and President Bola Tinubu of the All Progressives Congress (APC).
In 2025, Obi was linked to a broader opposition coalition involving Atiku, Rabiu Kwankwaso, Rotimi Amaechi and other political figures under the African Democratic Congress (ADC), although reports later indicated he and Kwankwaso moved to a separate political arrangement due to internal disagreements.
Speaking during an interview on Symfoni TV on Monday, Momodu said he personally advised Obi to consider working with Atiku, citing examples from Ghanaian and American politics.
“Peter is the only politician who has visited my home in London, Ghana and Lagos,” Momodu said.
“In one of the visits, I told Peter, ‘Try and work with Atiku.’ I gave him copious examples that if Mahama was not a vice president to Atta Mills, maybe he would never have become President of Ghana because he came from the minority, just like Jonathan of Nigeria.
“I gave him the example of America, where even though Biden was much older than Obama, he still came back to become President because he was able to demonstrate his capacity.
“You have only been a governor of a state, but Peter told me that he’s more popular than Atiku. I swear to God. If you see him, ask him if I lied against him.”
