Political strategist and Group Chief Executive Officer of Global Investment and Trade Company, Baba Yusuf, has raised serious concerns about the actions of the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, accusing him of deliberately working to destabilize the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) ahead of the 2027 presidential election. Speaking during an interview on Arise Television’s Prime Time programme, Yusuf claimed that Wike is actively playing what he described as a “spoiler game,” with the alleged aim of ensuring that the PDP is unable to present a strong and united front in 2027. According to Yusuf, Wike’s political strategy is calculated to weaken the PDP to prevent it from fielding credible and popular presidential contenders, such as former President Goodluck Jonathan or former Labour Party candidate Peter Obi, both of whom he believes would pose a strong challenge to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) if given the PDP ticket. Yusuf’s Breakdown of Wike’s Political Moves Yusuf explained: “From my consistent analysis and observations, what I call the linchpin strategy of Minister Nyesom Wike is clear. The ultimate goal is to destabilize the PDP so that no credible candidate like His Excellency, Peter Obi, or His Excellency, former President Goodluck Jonathan, can emerge. Minister Wike wants to ensure the party remains internally divided, and that is the political reality we are witnessing.” He further emphasized that the PDP’s current predicament is a result of the leadership’s failure to act decisively in curbing Wike’s growing influence within the party structure. Yusuf continued: “Unfortunately, the PDP leadership ignored early warning signs. Like the Hausa saying goes, ‘they slept on their hands and allowed the cob to become a lion.’ They should not have allowed Wike to build such a stronghold on the party’s machinery. Now, the damage is evident.” PDP’s Internal Weakness and Wike’s Influence Highlighting the party’s vulnerability, Yusuf noted that the PDP had effectively given Wike too much room to consolidate power. According to him, this unchecked influence has placed the party in a political cul-de-sac, where it is struggling to maintain balance and stability ahead of the next election. He explained that if the PDP were to allow either Jonathan or Obi to contest under its platform, they would be formidable challengers to the APC in 2027. However, Wike’s alleged moves appear strategically aimed at ensuring that such strong candidates do not emerge. Yusuf added: “The PDP elders must reflect on how they allowed funding and political control to be concentrated in the hands of one individual. This has weakened the party’s collective decision-making power. At the end of the day, when financial backing and internal structures are monopolized, other members lose their voices.” What This Means for the 2027 Elections Political analysts believe Yusuf’s comments highlight a broader issue within Nigerian party politics: the over-reliance on individual figures instead of institutional frameworks. If Wike continues on his alleged path of destabilizing the PDP, the party may face significant challenges in presenting a unified candidate in 2027. Both Peter Obi and Goodluck Jonathan remain popular political figures who could draw massive support if fielded by the PDP. However, with internal power struggles and alleged sabotage from within, the party risks missing an opportunity to challenge the APC effectively.
Fresh controversy has erupted surrounding the recent involvement of Peter Obi, the former Labour Party (LP) presidential flag bearer, in a newly formed opposition coalition reportedly coordinated by the African Democratic Congress (ADC). Reports now suggest that Obi, the ex-governor of Anambra State, was allegedly misled into aligning with the coalition, raising widespread concerns over internal power play. As speculation mounts, former Vice President Atiku Abubakar is increasingly being seen as a leading candidate to clinch the ADC’s 2027 presidential ticket. This comes amid strong indications that he intends to contest again in the next general elections, as observed by LMSINT MEDIA. While addressing a public audience recently, Atiku declared emphatically, “I swear to God, if elected, anyone caught in corrupt acts will face the full wrath of the law. There will be no mercy.” In contrast, Peter Obi has maintained that his presidential ambition remains centered on a one-term tenure, promising to hand over power as soon as the term ends. “I have not been part of any discussions on joint tickets, including with Atiku. If any agreement mandates a four-year term, I will honor that commitment and vacate office by May 28, 2031—not the 29th, but the 28th,” Obi emphasized. Obi Allegedly Misled Into Coalition Dr. Katchy Ononuju, who served as Obi’s Special Adviser on Public Affairs during the 2023 elections, revealed that the former Anambra governor was allegedly tricked into joining the ADC coalition under the illusion that he would be positioned as its presidential candidate. In a conversation with LMSINT MEDIA, Ononuju revealed that the coalition was a strategic ploy to lure Obi into a premature alliance. “They told Peter Obi to go ahead and register, promising that after the coalition’s inauguration, they would zone the presidency to the South and begin negotiations for him to emerge as the candidate. I warned him. These people are not sincere,” Ononuju stated. He continued, “I co-founded the Obidient Movement with Doyin Okupe. After trying to convince the PDP on zoning principles, we decided to support Obi’s leadership. That is why the Obidient Movement came into being. But I told Obi clearly that if he aligns with an arrangement that suppresses our collective vision, we will not support it.” Highlighting the insignificance of the Vice Presidency, he added, “Being Vice President means political silence. Look at Shettima, Osinbajo, or even Jonathan in the early years. Their voices were suppressed.” Accusations Against Atiku on Zoning Betrayal As Director General of the Heritage Centre, a think tank focused on governance and public policy, Ononuju accused Atiku of manipulating the zoning arrangement by refusing to honor the power rotation to the South. “Atiku once said the presidency should rotate to the South and Southeast. Why is he now resisting it? That’s why I warned Obi. The coalition was a trap. Obi even made a veiled reference during a recent Channels TV interview, confirming the ADC as a ‘future prospect,’ but stated he remains in his party—for now. The damage, however, was already done.” Ononuju further alleged that Atiku had already begun outlining his policy agenda, showing he intends to be the flag bearer. “ADC is Atiku’s political construct. There’s no room for negotiation. Once again, Obi is facing deception. Without caution, he could be politically sidelined,” he warned. Peter Obi’s Political Future at Risk if He Becomes Vice President Ononuju insisted that should Peter Obi agree to serve as a Vice President on any ticket, he would lose the support of Nigerian youths and suffer political extinction. He said, “Obi will be politically dead if he becomes anyone’s running mate. Nigerian youths will abandon him. Vice Presidents don’t have a voice—ask Osinbajo or Shettima. History shows that once you’re degraded as VP, you can’t recover.” Recalling the origins of Obi’s candidacy, he said, “Initially, Obi declined to run, remaining loyal to Atiku. But I reached out to Doyin Okupe, and we pushed the southern agenda until Obi agreed to run. Now, if he goes back on that, the youth base will walk away.” Ononuju: Atiku Built ADC Coalition for Himself Ononuju reaffirmed that the ADC coalition was a strategic framework built by Atiku and not designed for power sharing. “To be fair, ADC was built by Atiku. Why would he build a coalition just to hand over the candidacy to someone else?” he asked. He added, “This isn’t just about removing Tinubu. You must ask—remove him for what? Without a sound replacement strategy, you’re only recycling power among elites.” Ononuju described how the last campaign was structured along ethnic lines, engaging minority groups such as the Igalas, Ebiras, Babur, and Tiv in grassroots dialogue. “That’s why Peter Obi gained traction—he didn’t rely on one ethnic bloc. He appealed to all,” he said. Obidient Movement Reacts: “There’s No Truth in the Deception Claim” Yunusa Tanko, National Coordinator of the Obidient Movement, has dismissed the allegations that Peter Obi was misled into the ADC coalition. Tanko told LMSINT MEDIA that such reports are false and meant to derail the movement’s focus. “These are distractions. If Obi ever makes a statement on the coalition, it will come from him, myself, or a verified aide. There’s no truth in these claims. Obi believes in collective leadership that uplifts education, healthcare, and economic growth,” Tanko noted. Peter Obi Is Still in Labour Party; 2027 Coalition Is Strategic Tanko reaffirmed that Obi remains committed to the Labour Party and clarified that any coalition effort is strictly for the 2027 general elections. “He is still in the Labour Party to protect his followers and candidates under the platform. The coalition is a future arrangement for 2027. Right now, Obi is LP,” he concluded.
