NETIZENS have told Publisher of Ovation Magazine and former presidential candidate, Mr Dele Momodu, that former Anambra State Governor, Mr Peter Obi, cannot be the vice presidential candidate of former Vice President Atiku Abubakar or anyone else in the African Democratic Congress (ADC).
The comments followed Mr Momodu’s attack on economist and former presidential adviser, Prof Pat Utomi, who had insisted that he would walk away if Mr Obi became the VP candidate of anybody in the ADC.
Mr Obi, Prof Utomi and other supporters joined the ADC on December 31, 2025.
Speaking on Politics Today on Channels TV on Thursday, Prof Utomi had insisted that he would stop supporting Mr Obi if he became a VP candidate. “I can tell you that Peter Obi will contest for the presidency. The day he becomes somebody’s vice president, I walk away from his corner. I can tell you that for a fact,” he said.
But Prof Utomi’s comments angered Mr Momodu, who has been VP Atiku’s long-time ally. On his X handle on Friday, Mr Momodu, a journalist, wrote: “He seems not to have learnt from his own personal experience, and example, that ‘big grammar’ don’t win elections.”
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“DONALD Trump,” he continued, “is back today because the Republicans needed him, warts and all, to neutralise Kamala Harris. Pure and simple. It is not about zoning or who’s more brilliant, or elegant. The key word is reality. APC had a far more fascinating, cerebral, eloquent and respectable Yemi Osinbajo when it chose Bola Ahmed Tinubu as its flagbearer in 2023.”
“I’m, therefore, disappointed, and flabbergasted, at the total lack of political practicality on the part (no pun intended) of Pat Utomi, who’s been a serial victim of Nigeria’s electoral process. Anyone insisting that Obi cannot run behind anyone is definitely not a democrat who wishes to rescue Nigeria from one man dictatorship. In 2019, one visionary gentleman, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, placed Obg on national platform, against the wishes of many Governors and PDP stakeholders. OBI should be encouraged to be a humble party man…,” he added.
However, Mr Momodu’s attack on Prof Utomi did not go down well with netizens who asked him why he wanted Mr Obi to become a vice presidential candidate in the newly-formed party.
An X user, Comrade Olajide Ikujenyo, with the handle, @Jidekuje, wrote: “Sir, I have utmost respect for you, but on Peter Obi, you need to sit it out. If Atiku didn’t start the rhetoric of turn by turn in 2015 which played a major role in deciding the fate of PDP, we will not be where we are today. Whatever it is you want to accuse Peter Obi of, Atiku started it. The office of the president is not Atiku’s birthright, so is it also not Peter Obi’s. Atiku will never be president come 2031 whether or not Peter Obi deputizes him, and no obidient will vote for Peter Obi if he is not the presidential candidate.”
Another X user, Yakub Tijani, with the handle, @YakubTijani2, also wrote: “You praised Tanko yesterday just because he said what you wanted to hear. Today, you are demonizing the professor because of his firm stance. You are rattled because he’s not ready to worship Atiku like you. You all know that Obi went to ADC solely to become the VP candidate and you don’t want anyone to rupture that arrangement. Sorry sir, Alhaji Atiku will still lose the 2027 election.”
A medical doctor, Ogbonna Amanze, @Ogbonna_Amanze, critcised Mr Momodu for always fighting anyone disputing Mr Atiku’s chances in the 2027 election. He wrote: “Oga Dele, it is very shocking to see that you are equally guilty of what you are accusing Prof. Pat Utomi of – because you are fixated in your support for Atiku! Why are you always quick in countering any view that is not supporting the candidature of AA? If not checked, this “AA or nothing” and “no need for zoning” mentality that destroyed PDP in 2022/2023 will equally be the undoing of ADC in 2026/2027.”
An X user, Jay Ibiam, @ib_ibiam, compared Mr Atiku’s 2023 performance with Mr Obi’s, writing: “Mr A had 14 Governors(including his running mate), over 40 Senators and 128 house members and got 6.9m votes. Mr B had 0 Governors, 0 Senators and 0 House members, and got 6.1m votes after glitch, but you think the ‘PRACTICAL’ thing is to give Mr A the ticket?”
However, some netizens agreed with Mr Momodu, saying that Mr Obi should make sacrifices for the ADC’s success. An user, Khone, @kingkhone4real, wrote: “Peter Obi and those known as the ‘Obidients’ who insisted on ‘Obi or nothing’ have, ironically, turned out to be the strongest supporters of Bola Ahmed Tinubu. This is not merely a case of blind loyalty among the supporters or selfish interest on Peter Obi’s part; their behaviour exemplifies what political science refers to as ‘concerned trolling.'”
Similarly, Ifeanyi Aniebonam, @AniebonamIfy, wrote: Well spoken sir…..but another question. What political relevance has Prof Pat. Utomi to be threatening obi and we are taking him serious? He can’t even win his PU. Politics is not wishful thinking its reality. This is not economics or business where he has vast knowledge in.”
