Dele Momodu says Obi felt he was more popular than Atiku

A leader of the African Democratic Congress, Dele Momodu, has shared that 2027 Nigeria Democratic Congress presidential candidate, Peter Obi, turned down his advice to work with former Vice President Atiku Abubakar. Obi believed he was more popular than the ADC presidential candidate.

Obi was Atiku Abubakar’s running mate in the Peoples Democratic Party during the 2019 presidential election.

In 2023, he switched to the Labour Party and ran for president, finishing third behind Atiku and President Bola Tinubu of the All Progressives Congress.

In 2025, Obi teamed up with Atiku and other opposition leaders like Rabiu Kwankwaso and Rotimi Amaechi in the ADC.

But later, he and Kwankwaso left to join the NDC, saying there were issues within the opposition coalition.

In an interview on Symfoni TV on Monday, Momodu said he told Obi to think about teaming up with Atiku. He gave examples from politics in Ghana and America.

“Peter is the only politician who has visited my home in London, Ghana and Lagos,” Momodu said.

“In one of the visits, I told Peter, ‘Try and work with Atiku.’ I gave him many examples that if Mahama was not a vice president to Atta Mills, maybe he would never have become President of Ghana because he came from the minority, just like Jonathan of Nigeria.

“I mentioned America, where even though Biden was much older than Obama, he was able to come back and become President because he showed his ability.

“You have only been a governor of a state, but Peter told me that he’s more popular than Atiku. I swear to God. If you see him, ask him if I lied against him.”