The Ohanaeze Youth Council, (OYC) sympathetic to the presidential ambition of Peter Obi, former Anambra State governor and the candidate of the Labour Party (LP) in the 2023 general election, on Friday called out former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, accusing him of being a “mole” in the African Democratic Congress (ADC) out to ensure the re-election of President Bola Tinubu in the January 16, 2027 presidential election.
Newsmata.com.ng reports that with Atiku’s insistence on contesting the 2027 election, the OYC accused him of repeating what it called a “dangerous political precedent” which was largely responsible for the collapse of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) on which platform he contested in 2023 in utter disregard for the party’s constitutional north, south rotational arrangement.
The OYC similarly fingered a former Imo State governor, Emeka Ihedioha, Nollywood actor and lawyer, Kenneth Okonkwo and others, of working behind the scenes to ensure that Atiku emerged as the ADC candidate while frustrating Obi’s chances.
Consequently, the group issued Obi a 72-hour ultimatum to immediately withdraw from the ADC and seek an alternative platform to contest the election.
At a press conference held in Abuja, the OYC regretted that the action of the alleged “moles” could derail the chances of the ADC in the coming presidential election.
The National President of OYC, Igboayaka O. Igboayaka, feared that the internal crisis that crippled the PDP in 2023 was on the verge of repeating itself within the ADC due to what he described as “selfish political manoeuvres” by northern elites.
Igboayaka posited that after eight years of northern leadership under former President Muhammadu Buhari, it was only fair for power to shift to the South, adding that the PDP’s internal agreement was violated when both the party’s national chairman and presidential candidate emerged from the North at the time.
Raising concerns over perceived similar power imbalance currently playing out within the ADC, the OYC noted that both the party’s national chairman and former Senate President, David Mark, and Atiku who has thrown his hat into the ring as presidential contender, are from the North.
Igboayaka warned that this arrangement could trigger another internal rebellion and ultimately hand victory to Tinubu in 2027.
The OYC therefore suggested that “To demonstrate sincerity in stopping Bola Tinubu’s re-election, Atiku Abubakar should step down and support a southern candidate”.
Buttressing its claim of a coordinated plot within the ADC aimed at undermining the presidential ambition of Peter Obi, the OYC alleged that Ihedioha had already positioned loyalists within party structures in Imo State to weaken Obi’s support base.
Insisting that Atiku’s continued interest in contesting the ADC presidential ticket in 2027 is not coincidental but part of a calculated strategy, Igboayaka alleged that the move was designed to split opposition votes, thereby easing Tinubu’s path to re-election while positioning Atiku for a possible return bid in 2031.
“This is a deliberate political arrangement to aid Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s re-election,” Igboayaka emphasised.
Handing down the ultimatum to Obi, the OYC said, “We urge him to relinquish his membership from the African Democratic Congress within 72 hours and identify an alternative political party to ensure his candidacy in the 2027 presidential election by all feasible means”.
Curiously, Igboayaka rose in stout defence of the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) and former Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike, positing that his actions during the PDP crisis were not intended to destroy the party.
While arguing that Wike “did not intentionally seek to destroy the PDP,” the OYC asserted that the real issue stemmed from Atiku’s alleged refusal to allow southern Nigeria to produce the party’s presidential candidate.
