By Ibrahim Salaudeen, Lagos
Human rights activist, Deji Adeyanju, has given insight into why he would prefer President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to Peter Obi if the two politicians were to contest against each other in the 2027 presidential election.
Adeyanju refuted the allegation that he was working with the All Progressives Congress (APC) to undermine the opposition, particularly Peter Obi who is seen as a would – be – major contender in the next presidential race.
The activist maintained that his political engagements had always been driven by consistency and independent mindedness.
He spoke on Friday while appearing on Channels Television interview programme.
He noted that his position was not out of loyalty to the ruling APC, but a reflection of his personal convictions about democracy, tolerance, and political conduct, citing previous steps he had taken during past elections to buttress his points.
Adeyanju recalled that in previous elections he had voted for different candidates across party lines for reasons bordering on his personal judgment of their suitability.
He said, “Why would somebody like me support the APC? Support the APC for what? If the opposition presents Peter Obi, I will vote Tinubu.
“This is because we cannot have a situation where, a man whose supporters cannot tolerate criticism, call people all sorts of names.
“Anybody who does not support their candidate is an enemy of Nigeria. Anybody that does not support the candidate has been paid, has been compromised in supporting the government.
“I have never voted for a bad candidate in my view. In 1999, I voted for Obasanjo. In 2011, I voted for Goodluck Jonathan. In 2015, I voted for Jonathan again because I couldn’t support Buhari, and in 2023, I voted for Omoyele Sowore,” Adeyanju said.
Adeyanju said his decision to oppose Obi followed largely from encounter with the ex – governor’s supporters – obidients, whom he reckoned as unruly and intolerant of dissenting views.
According to him, many of the Obi’s supporters took to online attacks and intimidation of those with dissenting views about their messiah.
He said without unity among the major players it would be difficult, if impossible, to dislodge APC in 2027.
Adeyanju noted that in the beginning he found Obi’s candidacy “exciting,” particularly as it presented an opportunity for the South-East geopolitical to take a bold shot at the presidency, but his excitement waned as the campaign progressed.
He said, “What we are saying is that we must sanitise our polity, that we cannot have a country where people who terrorise others who do not appreciate that people have their rights.
“Look at what they did to Joke Silva during the election. They had artists and Nollywood people supporting them. Nobody terrorised those people.
“But they terrorised that woman, and other people, because she decided to support Tinubu in the last election. People have the right, I have the right.
“The idea of Obi’s candidacy excited me because the South-East has not produced a president since independence,” he said.
Adeyanju noted however, that he couldn’t come to align with some of the things he observed in the obidient movement.
He said that his activism over the years had been rooted in defense of democracy and free expression, even at personal cost.
He recalled that he had faced multiple arrests in the past under different administrations because of his advocacy.
“We have put our lives on the line for this country, for the preservation of democracy, at personal expense of prosecution. What kind of charges have we not faced in this country? At the time, I was almost charged with terrorism. They’ve charged me for all kinds of offences in this country,” he said.
The activist said that his decision to take a firm stance against Obi should not be misconstrued as partisanship, assuring that he remained committed to issue-based politics.
“Because we cannot have a situation in our country or in our polity where political extremism becomes the order of the day. And Nigerians are living witnesses to the things that eventually happened to the build-up of the last election,” he said.
