Why Atiku, Obi were absent at secretariat unveiling – ADC

The African Democratic Congress, ADC, has revealed thereason former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and former Anambra State governor,Peter Obi, were absent at the unveiling of its new secretariat in Abuja onNovember 17. This was contained in a statement by the party’s NationalPublicity Secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi, dismissing reports suggesting that Obisnubbed the leadership because the secretariat was formerly Atiku’s campaignoffice. While the ADC National Chairman,David Mark; the party’s National Secretary, Rauf Aregbesola; and former KadunaState governor, Nasir El-Rufai, attended the unveiling, both Obi and Atiku wereabsent and did not issue any formal statement. Inaugurating the new secretariat, Mark described it as areflection of the coalition’s ambition to reshape Nigeria’s political future. “It is a physical testament to our collective resolve tobuild a greater nation. This ADC coalition is a historic child of necessity,inspired by people’s desire for good governance, greater accountability, and astronger democracy,” he said. Obi’s absence had been widely interpreted as a rejection ofthe secretariat because of its previous link to Atiku. However, Abdullahi, who dismissed the insinuation, insistedObi remained committed to the coalition, explaining that Obi was out of thecountry during the event, while Atiku was unavailable due to other engagements. He said, “The programme was impromptu; most of the partyleaders were not in attendance. Obi was out of the country, and Atiku wasn’tavailable. There’s nothing to suggest that Peter Obi is withdrawing from thecoalition. He is still with us. “Let me state again that Atiku isn’t the owner of thebuilding, and he didn’t donate it to the ADC. He leased the building, and hisrent had expired. The ADC rented the building.” The ADC’s mouthpiece further stated that there was no riftamong ADC leaders, insisting that the coalition remained united in its goal tounseat President Bola Tinubu in 2027.

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