Why APC Is Struggling to Contain Peter Obi’s Rising Influence – Sam Amadi

The Director of the Abuja School of Social and Political Thoughts, Dr. Sam Amadi, says the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) is finding it difficult to contain the growing political influence of Labour Party’s 2023 presidential candidate, Peter Obi, because of his unconventional and structure-free political style.

Speaking during an interview on 90MinutesAfrica with Rudolf Okonkwo, Amadi described Obi’s approach as “minimalist politics” a style that prioritizes visibility and popular connection over traditional political structures.

“Look at how he runs his campaign. It is difficult for the APC government to stop him because he is everywhere. He has no structure for them to smash. But he also has his own downside,” Amadi explained.

According to the political scholar, Obi’s strength lies in his organic, people-driven mobilisation, which operates outside the conventional machinery of Nigerian politics. He noted that this makes it challenging for the ruling party to undermine his movement through the usual tactics of co-option or institutional pressure.

Amadi added that Obi’s “minimalist” method gives him flexibility and resilience, enabling him to connect directly with supporters across regions and demographics. However, he also pointed out that the same strategy limits Obi’s ability to build long-term political institutions or a sustainable party structure.

“Peter Obi is not the type of politician who can carry the burden of organising institutions and structures, which require enormous time and resources,” he said.

The scholar emphasized that Obi’s lean organisational model helps him stay agile in Nigeria’s volatile political landscape, but may also hinder his capacity to consolidate power or create enduring political networks.

Beyond electoral politics, Amadi also addressed growing religious tensions in northern Nigeria. He warned that Christians in the region are increasingly being treated as second-class citizens, describing the violence against them as “state-tolerated and sanctioned mass violence.”

“The Nigerian state is toying with inconsistency and contradictions. I see northern Christians becoming more of second-class citizens. The state is guilty and complicit in the sustained violence against them,” he said.

Amadi’s comments come amid ongoing debates about Nigeria’s political inclusivity, regional inequalities, and the evolving influence of non-traditional political movements led by figures like Peter Obi.