Supporters of former Labour Party presidential candidate Peter Obi have dismissed suggestions that their recent criticism of the “dollarisation” of party primaries was aimed at former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, insisting their remarks were a general reflection on Nigeria’s flawed democratic process.
Dr. Yunusa Tanko, National Coordinator of the Obidient Movement Worldwide—Obi’s fervent base of supporters—made the clarification in an interview with The PUNCH and seen by Abuja Politico, following reports that his earlier comments were seen as a veiled attack on Atiku.
“We are being misrepresented on this issue,” Tanko said. “Our position was not a response or attack on former Vice President Atiku Abubakar over his BBC Hausa interview. What I said was that in our democracy today, primaries are heavily monetised. It is a general statement. Of course, Atiku and Obi have an excellent working relationship.”
Tanko added that Obi had consistently opposed the entrenched practice of vote-buying and delegate inducement that define Nigeria’s internal party elections. “Mr Peter Obi wouldn’t be part of the old order where primaries are heavily monetised,” he said. “Primaries should be about ideas and issues — education, health, security, and lifting people out of poverty — not about who can pay the most.”
The clarification followed Atiku’s recent remarks to BBC Hausa that he would be willing to step down from the 2027 presidential race if defeated by a younger aspirant at the African Democratic Congress (ADC) primaries. The former vice president, however, stopped short of confirming whether he would contest, saying his immediate focus was on strengthening the new party.
Atiku’s comments, and the Obidient Movement’s criticism of delegate inducement, had fuelled speculation of friction between the two political camps. But Tanko maintained that Obi’s position was rooted in principle, not rivalry.
“Obi is bringing a new political ideology into the system,” he said. “He will never go into a primary election where he has to buy out the delegates. In Nigeria today, delegates are purchased — and in dollars, not naira. For those of us who want to give hope to the younger generation, how do you encourage them if the system rewards only the highest bidder?”
The debate over monetised primaries has reignited concerns about the state of internal democracy in Nigeria’s political parties. Former Kaduna Central senator Shehu Sani waded into the conversation, warning that despite Atiku’s expressed openness, it would be difficult for any aspirant to defeat him in a delegate-driven contest.
“It’s easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle than to beat the Waziri in primaries,” Sani posted on X. “Party delegates are a special breed of people.”
