Phrank Shaibu, Special Adviser on Public Communications to former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar, has dismissed assertions by the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, that Peter Obi misled his followers when he associated with the African Democratic Congress, ADC.
In a post on X, Shaibu described Keyamo’s comments as “guesswork dressed up as certainty”, arguing that Peter Obi neither defected nor deceived anyone. Shaibu said Obi had been part of the broader opposition coalition from the start and that his public statement confirmed an existing arrangement rather than signalling betrayal.
Peter Obi ADC coalition response
Shaibu also pushed back against Keyamo’s suggestion that Obi joined the ADC to secure a running mate position rather than to pursue the presidency. He said branding the ADC as the personal property of former vice-president Atiku Abubakar was either ignorant or deliberate mischief, stressing that coalitions are formed by agreement and not by ownership.
“Your fixation on a VP narrative exposes your fear, not Obi’s intentions,” Shaibu wrote, according to the post. He accused Keyamo of making claims he could not prove and of projecting motives onto opponents. Shaibu added that such speculation did not amount to serious political analysis.
Shaibu’s reaction went further than a simple rebuttal. He criticised what he described as the current government’s reliance on “noise, insults, and intimidation,” contrasting it with the opposition’s approach, which he characterised as calm and strategic organisation. He urged political actors to focus on the real concerns of Nigerians, including hunger, insecurity, and economic hardship.
“What exists is simple: a coalition determined to remove a failed administration through the ballot,” Shaibu said, predicting that Nigerians would express their judgment at the polls in 2027 based on lived experience rather than on insults or threats. He warned that arrogance was not leadership and that power was not inherited.
The exchange captures the tensions within the opposition and among ruling party figures as parties jostle for position ahead of the 2027 general election. The ADC, with Peter Obi linked to its activities, has emerged as a notable actor in the shifting alliances that could reshape the opposition’s strategy.
Political analysts say such public spats may reflect broader negotiations and anxieties about ticket formation and coalition leadership. Speculation about vice-presidential deals and party ownership often surfaces in Nigeria’s intense pre-election period. Shaibu’s public response seeks to dampen the narrative that decisions have been preordained and to reaffirm that coalition agreements remain subject to negotiation.
For now, the dispute serves as a reminder that the road to 2027 will involve sustained political contestation. Observers will watch how parties balance personal ambitions with coalition-building, and whether rhetorical clashes translate into strategic realignments ahead of the next national ballot.
Key Takeaways:
- Phrank Shaibu rejects Festus Keyamo’s claim that Peter Obi deceived supporters and insists Obi did not defect.
- Shaibu says the ADC coalition is not the personal property of Atiku Abubakar and stresses coalition agreements are voluntary.
- Shaibu accuses Keyamo of projecting a vice-presidential narrative without evidence and urges focus on governance issues ahead of 2027.
- The dispute highlights shifting opposition alignments and the strategic preparations for the 2027 poll, with the Peter Obi ADC coalition drawing attention.
