House of Representatives member Afam Ogene has commended former Labour Party presidential candidate Peter Obi for leaving the African Democratic Congress, ADC, to join the Nigerian Democratic Congress, NDC. Ogene made the remarks on Wednesday during an appearance on 'Sunrise Daily' on Channels Television. He noted that Obi's decision should be applauded, questioning why anyone would choose to remain in a party plagued by internal crises.
Obi and former NNPP presidential candidate Rabi'u Kwankwaso left the ADC on Sunday and moved to the NDC. Ogene challenged critics by drawing comparisons to Atiku Abubakar, asking why Atiku did not remain in the PDP to manage the crisis that followed his candidacy four years ago. He also pointed to Atiku's history of switching parties despite running on their platforms.
According to Ogene, Obi is seeking a political environment that enables national functionality rather than staying in a party hindered by internal conflicts and alleged government interference. "What Mr Peter Obi seeks is a country that works for everybody," he said. He described the ADC as bogged down by competing interests and external forces aiming to keep Obi off the ballot.
Afam Ogene praises Peter Obi for leaving a troubled party while ignoring that Atiku Abubakar has done the same multiple times without similar acclaim. The double standard in framing political movement exposes how loyalty is only questioned when it suits certain narratives. If Obi's exit is heroic for seeking a functional system, then Atiku's repeated departures should be seen the same way. The real issue isn't defection—it's which defections get celebrated and which get condemned.
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