Human rights activist Deji Adeyanju has stated that he would rather support President Bola Tinubu than Peter Obi if the African Democratic Congress (ADC) fields the former Anambra Governor as its presidential candidate in the 2027 elections.
Adeyanju stated this on Friday during an interview on Channels Television’s Morning Brief, where he was asked whether his criticisms of Peter Obi were aimed at undermining the former Anambra governor.
“God forbid that I support APC. If the opposition presents Peter Obi, I will vote for Tinubu,” he said.
The rift between Adeyanju and Obi recently escalated into a legal matter after the 64-year-old politician, through his legal team, threatened to sue the activist for alleged defamatory comments on social media and in interviews. He, however, dismissed the legal threat, saying he was eager to face Obi in court.
He also accused Obi of promoting what he described as a toxic political culture, pointing to the conduct of some of the “Obidient” supporters during the last election cycle.
“We cannot have a man who leads a mob that terrorises people online and cannot tolerate criticism, who calls people all sorts of names. Anybody who cannot support their candidate is seen as an enemy of Nigeria or has been paid to do so. That is not democracy,” Adeyanju said.
Questioning Obi’s democratic credentials, the activist argued that the Labour Party leader had not made sacrifices comparable to those of other Nigerians who fought for the country’s democratic survival.
“What sacrifices has he made for democracy? Many of us have put our lives on the line at great personal cost. We must sanitise our polity. We cannot have a country where people who terrorise others online dictate the tone of political discourse,” he said.
Looking back at his voting record, Adeyanju maintained that his decisions at the polls have always been guided by principle rather than sentiment. He argued that he had never cast his ballot for a candidate he considered unfit.
He recalled supporting Olusegun Obasanjo in 1999, then backing Goodluck Jonathan in both the 2011 and 2015 elections. According to him, his choice to stand with Jonathan in 2015 was a deliberate move against those who rallied behind Muhammadu Buhari under the guise of defending democracy.
