The Director of the Abuja School of Social and Political Thoughts, Dr. Sam Amadi, has explained why the All Progressives Congress (APC) finds it difficult to weaken the political influence of Peter Obi, the 2023 presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP).

Speaking during an interview on 90MinutesAfrica, Dr. Amadi said Obi’s unconventional political style has made it nearly impossible for the ruling party to suppress his growing movement.

“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,” Amadi said.

According to him, Obi’s strength lies in his fluid and decentralized approach to politics, which operates without the kind of rigid, hierarchical structures that can easily be targeted or dismantled.

Describing the former Anambra State governor as a “minimalist”, Amadi noted that while this same trait gives Obi flexibility and resilience, it also limits his ability to build and sustain a large, traditional political organisation.

“Obi prefers to spend less time, money, and energy on party institutions, making it difficult for opponents to trace or attack his political base,” he added.

However, Amadi cautioned that this strategy could also hamper Obi’s ability to maintain a strong, enduring political platform capable of surviving beyond electoral cycles.

The former Chairman of the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) also touched on broader national issues. He described the persistent violence in northern Nigeria as “state-tolerated and sanctioned mass violence against Christians.”

Amadi linked the unrest to the adoption of Sharia law in twelve northern states in 2000, which he said effectively created “two republics in one country, the Federal Republic, which is secular, and an Islamic Republic.”

According to him, this dual system has left many northern Christians feeling marginalized and like “second-class citizens.”

On economic matters, Amadi criticised successive administrations for hastily embracing privatisation without first reforming the public sector. Recalling his tenure at NERC, he said he had advised the Goodluck Jonathan administration to strengthen the power sector before privatising it.

 “Look at Egypt, they achieved 10,000 megawatts before planning to privatise,” he said, arguing that genuine progress will only come when Nigeria builds a solid, publicly managed foundation before bringing in private investors.

Amadi’s remarks provide insight into why the APC continues to grapple with Obi’s unconventional political model, which thrives on public appeal, grassroots mobilisation, and a loosely structured network of supporters rather than traditional party machinery.