Former Governor of Ekiti State, Ayodele Fayose, has acknowledged the defection of the former Labour Party presidential candidate, Peter Obi, to the African Democratic Congress as instrumental to the party’s existence, dismissing other coalition members as irrelevant.

In a Channels TV interview late Friday, Mr Fayose, however, downplayed the coalition’s chances in the 2027 presidential election, insisting President Bola Tinubu would emerge victorious.

“2027 is for Asiwaju; it’s obvious,” the politician stated. “Tell me what’s happening in the ADC. Obi is the only life in the ADC. All other people are semi-existent. If he had remained in the Labour Party or gone to Accord, the coalition wouldn’t have been useless. Other people there old, used forces.”

Mr Fayose further insisted the Peoples Democratic Party was technically dead, accusing former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and ex-Sokoto Governor Aminu Tambuwal of destroying the opposition party.

“Technically, PDP is no more. Atiku destroyed the PDP, Tambuwal destroyed the PDP, and Ayu destroyed it. Politics is not fair; life itself is not balanced,” he added.

Asked why he supported Mr Tinubu despite being a member of the PDP, Mr Fayose explained, “Openly, I supported Asiwaju Tinubu in 2023, and I didn’t hide it. Til now, I am still there. I didn’t jump. I have said it to you, I am not a member of the APC, and I will never be.

“Everybody stands where they will be able to say the truth to Nigerians. I am not contesting elections, and I have not asked anybody for favours.”

In December, Mr Obi officially dumped the Labour Party for the coalition-backed ADC, declaring his readiness to join forces with other Nigerians to resist electoral malpractice during the 2027 general elections.

“We are ending this year with the hope that in 2026. we will begin a rescue journey. We will resist rigging of elections by every lawful means in 2027,” the former Labour Party chieftain said while addressing supporters in Enugu State.

Meanwhile, the All Progressives Congress downplayed Mr Obi’s defection, insisting his decision confirmed the former Anambra State governor’s political promiscuity.