The pan-Yoruba socio-political group Afenifere has dismissed reports suggesting it endorsed the coalition of opposition parties in Nigeria, which recently adopted the African Democratic Congress (ADC) as its platform for the 2027 elections.
This clarification came after a delegation, said to represent Afenifere, reportedly visited former President Olusegun Obasanjo at his Abeokuta residence over the weekend.
In a statement issued on Tuesday, August 12, in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital, Afenifere’s National Publicity Secretary, Jare Ajayi, made it clear that the organisation had neither sent any delegation to Obasanjo recently nor issued any related statements.
Ajayi acknowledged that some members of the visiting group, such as Sola Ebiseni and Akin Osuntokun, are notable Afenifere chieftains but stressed their involvement was linked to Peter Obi’s 2023 presidential campaign, not official Afenifere representation.
He explained, “Osuntokun was the person who took over as Campaign Director of Peter Obi’s Presidential Campaign Council when late Doyin Okupe resigned,” while “Ebiseni was the South-West Coordinator of the same council.”
READ ALSO: 2027: Obasanjo Hosts Peter Obi Allies, Afenifere Faction in Abeokuta
The statement also noted the presence of campaign coordinators John Ughulu and Folaseye Adabayo, who are not members of Afenifere.
Ajayi pointed out, “The principal, Obi, has been reported to be in the ADC Coalition presently. It is therefore logical that his supporters would be justifying the coalition.”
Emphasising its non-partisan position, Afenifere said, “Afenifere is not against any political group. But it is not in cahoots with any political party since it is non-partisan politically. Afenifere is for all the Yorubas. As we all know, not all Yoruba people are in politics.”
Ajayi further clarified that the organisation supports positions aligned with its socio-political values but does not endorse specific political parties. He added,
“This is why the organisation continues to support the Federal Government’s efforts to restore and reposition the country in the overall interest of the Nigerian people,” he added.
Concluding, Ajayi described the debate about coalition affiliations as “a distraction that we cannot afford.”