“Obi-Kwankwaso alliance is divided by mutual mistrust” — Adams faults Opposition coalition

Constitutional lawyer and public affairs analyst, Barrister Asim Adams, has said growing internal disagreements and deep-seated “mutual mistrust” among key figures are threatening the cohesion of the Obi-Kwankwaso (OK) Movement and the National Democratic Coalition (NDC) ahead of the 2027 general elections.

Speaking during Political Lens on Voice of the People (VOP) TV, Mr Adams alleged that some of the founding figures of the Obidient Movement, including activist Aisha Yesufu, were gradually being sidelined as new power blocs emerged within the opposition alliance.

He said the internal struggle was a natural consequence of competing political interests and attempts to control the movement’s direction.

“It is expected because of the fact that there is mutual mistrust between key supporters. Key players like Aisha Yesufu, who was a key player in the Obidient Movement, have been sidelined or overran by individuals taking over the limelight,” Mr Adams said.

Despite the reported leadership disagreements, the constitutional lawyer argued that the political appeal of former Anambra State Governor Peter Obi remained intact, insisting that his support base continued to pose a major challenge to both the ruling party and opposition rivals.

According to him, Mr Obi’s performance in previous elections demonstrated his ability to attract widespread support without relying on traditional political structures.

“In the history of Nigerian political ecosystem, a man like Peter Obi without structure was able to garner over six million votes—that is an upset. People are so scared of him; he looks like a hurricane, the Barack Obama of Nigeria,” he said.

Mr Adams further alleged that political opponents were making deliberate efforts to weaken the movement because of Mr Obi’s growing influence.

“The opposition or the ruling party are bound to be scared because any party he goes to, he carries that momentum and an avalanche of support. That is why they are doing everything within and without to upstage the apple cart and destabilize him,” he added.

The comments come amid growing speculation over disagreements within the Obi-Kwankwaso alliance as supporters of both camps continue efforts to build a united opposition platform under the NDC ahead of the 2027 elections.

Fubara’s political future

Commenting on the political situation in Rivers State during the programme, Mr Adams described Governor Siminalayi Fubara as politically weakened following his reconciliation with the camp of the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike.

He claimed the governor had surrendered much of his political independence and warned that any attempt to backtrack on agreements reached with his political opponents could trigger fresh confrontation with the Rivers State House of Assembly.

Mr Adams also criticised governance in the state, describing many of the reported achievements as “audio development” while alleging that public healthcare and education infrastructure had deteriorated significantly.

APC primaries face legal challenge

Mr Adams also weighed in on the growing legal battles arising from the All Progressives Congress senatorial primaries, saying the lawsuits filed by aggrieved aspirants reflected the absence of internal democracy within political parties.

According to him, disputes over consensus candidacies and alleged irregularities could have serious implications for the APC’s electoral fortunes in several states ahead of the 2027 general elections.

He argued that sidelining influential party members who built the party’s political structures could weaken the APC during the elections if the grievances remain unresolved.