Obi told me he was more popular than Atiku, says Dele Momodu

A chieftain of the African Democratic Congress, Dele Momodu, has revealed that 2027 Nigeria Democratic Congress presidential candidate, Peter Obi, once rejected his suggestion to work with former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, insisting that he was more popular than the ADC presidential candidate.

Recall that Obi served as Atiku Abubakar’s running mate on the Peoples Democratic Party ticket in the 2019 presidential election.

In 2023, he defected to the Labour Party and contested the presidency, finishing third behind Atiku and President Bola Tinubu of the All Progressives Congress .

In 2025, Obi joined Atiku and other opposition figures, including Rabiu Kwankwaso and Rotimi Amaechi, in the ADC.

However, he and Kwankwaso later defected to NDC, citing internal crises within the opposition coalition.

Speaking during an interview on Symfoni TV on Monday, Momodu said he advised Obi to consider partnering 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.”

Both Atiku and Obi are now presidential candidates of their respective parties for the 2027 elections.

Momodu also spoke on the nation’s political climate, alleging that several political actors privately harbour concerns about Tinubu’s growing influence.

The ADC chieftain further claimed that some governors supporting the President were doing so publicly while privately hoping for a different political outcome.

“A lot of the governors who are supporting Tinubu are praying silently that he will not return. Because they know if he wins, he will become a full-blown emperor.

“Talk to a lot of them privately. They will tell you that it is not in their interest for Asiwaju to come back,” he said.

Momodu also criticised the influence wielded by the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, arguing that it stemmed largely from the President’s support.

He accused Tinubu of being unfair to suspended Rivers State Governor Siminalayi Fubara and faulted the declaration of a state of emergency in the state.

“Fubara himself has not been able to say it, but I can say that Tinubu was very cruel.

“You declared a state of emergency in a state where there was nothing,” he said.