ADC Crisis: ‘Pat Utomi Secretly Working For Tinubu Responsible for Atiku–Obi Split in 2023’

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Franklyn Maduabuchi, widely recognized as Cardinal Comrade Edede, has raised alarms over the renewed engagement of Pat Utomi within the African Democratic Congress (ADC), alleging covert alignment with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

In a phone interview with The Authority on Tuesday, Edede, who identifies himself as a Capacity National Leader, warned opposition figures to scrutinize Utomi’s influence within the party. He claimed that despite publicly backing Peter Obi during the 2023 presidential elections, Utomi allegedly worked behind the scenes in ways that weakened Obi’s campaign.

According to Edede, Utomi’s activities contributed to the widening rift between Peter Obi and Atiku Abubakar, a split he argued critically undermined the opposition and facilitated Tinubu’s victory. He also questioned the sources of funding Utomi accessed via TETFUND initiatives in 2023, implying that these financial channels raised concerns about Utomi’s political allegiances.

“The failure of Obi and Atiku to unite in 2023 was a strategic advantage for the ruling party,” Edede remarked, emphasizing that Utomi’s behind-the-scenes maneuvers were part of a broader strategy favoring the APC.

Looking ahead to the 2027 elections, Edede criticized suggestions that Obi should contest independently. He warned, “Anyone pushing Obi to contest outside the Atiku-led ADC structure is indirectly working for Tinubu to remain in power.” He argued that such a strategy would only enhance the ruling party’s prospects.

Edede praised Atiku Abubakar for his political experience and asserted that he should remain the opposition’s presidential candidate. He stressed that the only credible path to defeating Tinubu in 2027 would be a combined ticket of Atiku and Obi under the ADC, with Atiku as president and Obi as deputy. “The North and the South-East would overwhelmingly support an Atiku–Obi ticket, and that combination would be extremely difficult to beat,” he added.

Concluding his remarks, Edede urged opposition leaders to prioritize unity over personal ambition, cautioning that further divisions would merely strengthen the APC’s hold on power in the upcoming elections.