The African Democratic Congress has offered clarity on why Labour Party presidential candidate, Peter Obi, and former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, have yet to be formally inducted into the party, amid widespread speculation about their political defection.
Addressing journalists during a media briefing in Abuja on Sunday, the ADC’s Interim National Publicity Secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi, stated that the delay is intentional and meant to allow both political figures to wrap up lingering obligations within their former parties.
According to Abdullahi, the hold-up is not a result of reluctance or uncertainty on the part of the ADC, but rather a matter of respecting internal party processes and transitions still ongoing in their previous political affiliations.
“They were given the space to conclude pending processes, such as by-elections and the selection of governorship candidates in their legacy parties,” he explained.
He noted that once these activities are concluded, both Obi and El-Rufai will be formally received into the ADC. Despite the absence of official declarations, Abdullahi affirmed that both men are in alignment with the party’s vision and are already involved in engagements at different levels within the ADC-led coalition.
This clarification comes amid recent remarks by Peter Obi, who reiterated that he “remains” a member of the Labour Party and intends to run for president in 2027.
