Ononuga brands Obi ‘opportunistic’ as ex-governor vows never to be part of rigged primaries, bribing judges

Africa, Politics

ABUJA, Nigeria — 14 April 2026 (NPA) — Presidential Spokesperson Bayo Ononuga has described Mr Peter Obi, a chieftain of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) and presidential aspirant, as “peripatetic, opportunistic and inconsistent,” following Obi’s televised remarks on his political trajectory.

Ononuga’s comments came in response to Obi’s interview with Arise Television, where the former Anambra State governor outlined his movement from the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), and later to the ADC. Obi said he left APGA due to destructive governance by his successor, and departed PDP over what he termed “transactional politics” and entrenched corruption.

Obi argued that critics who questioned his exit from PDP were themselves complicit in the party’s failings, likening their actions to “setting fire to a house” in hopes of consuming him politically. He insisted he would not remain in any party that compromises integrity, declaring: “You cannot use the process of yesterday to build tomorrow.”

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Pressed on whether he would leave ADC if corruption emerged, Obi said he would not hesitate, stressing: “I am in ADC with the same people, some of whom I left PDP and other parties, but we are going through the same process. If that process is again compromised, I will speak out.”  He added, “If I have to move, I don’t have a long time in politics. But if I have a long time, I will do it twenty times. I cannot be talking about something new while being part of the process. You cannot use the process of yesterday to build tomorrow.” 

The former Labour Party candidate said he has never been involved in rigged primaries or bribing the judiciary. “I’ve never been involved in any form of rigged election at the primary level or at the election itself.  I have never been part of paying people in the judiciary anywhere to give me judgment.” 

He added that he had no dealings with the former INEC chairman, noting, “I expected him, as referee, to do his job. But I cannot be preaching change and doing it wrongly,” he punctuated.