Political commentator Katch Ononuju has shed light on former Anambra State Governor Peter Obi’s decision to associate with the African Democratic Congress (ADC) and his subsequent departure from the opposition platform.
Ononuju discussed the development during an interview with SYMFONI TV, where he provided insight into conversations he had with Obi before the former governor became involved with the political arrangement.
According to the analyst, he had reservations about Obi’s decision to enter the ADC coalition and had advised him against taking that path. However, Obi reportedly believed that participating in the opposition movement from within was necessary if he intended to remain relevant in the contest for political power.
Ononuju explained that Obi was concerned that staying outside the emerging political structure would limit his ability to influence negotiations surrounding the 2027 presidential contest.
He said Obi’s position was that political decisions were ultimately made by those who were physically involved in the process. As a result, he believed that entering the political structure would give him an opportunity to participate directly in discussions concerning the distribution and pursuit of power.
Ononuju said that despite Obi’s decision, he personally declined to become part of the arrangement. He noted that he was not the only political figure who chose to remain outside the coalition, as several others also decided against participating.
Recalling his conversation with Obi in Enugu, Ononuju said the former governor explained that political negotiations could not be effectively pursued from outside the room where crucial decisions were being made.
He quoted Obi as saying: “The people said I can’t negotiate for power staying outside the room. I need to go into the room to go and negotiate with power.”
Ononuju said Obi subsequently joined the political arrangement with the intention of contributing to the opposition’s efforts and positioning himself within the discussions surrounding the country’s political future.
However, according to the political analyst, Obi eventually discovered that the circumstances within the coalition did not provide the opportunity he had anticipated.
Ononuju explained that when it became apparent that Obi could not achieve his political objectives through the arrangement, the former governor eventually decided to withdraw.
He described the decision as a logical consequence of the circumstances surrounding Obi’s involvement, arguing that once the former governor realised there was no viable path forward for him within the platform, leaving became the natural option.
Ononuju said Obi subsequently addressed the public and explained his reasons for leaving the coalition.
The analyst’s comments provide an insight into the political calculations surrounding Obi’s brief association with the ADC and the broader opposition coalition ahead of the 2027 presidential election.
Obi, who emerged as a major political force during the 2023 presidential election after contesting on the Labour Party platform, has remained a prominent figure in discussions about the possibility of opposition parties forming a stronger alliance to challenge the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
His decision to join and later leave the ADC has therefore generated considerable interest, particularly as opposition politicians continue to explore possible alliances and strategies ahead of the 2027 polls.
Ononuju’s account suggests that Obi initially viewed participation in the coalition as an opportunity to remain directly involved in negotiations over political power, but eventually concluded that the arrangement could not deliver the outcome he had hoped for.
