In a significant political shift, former 2023 Labour Party presidential candidate, Peter Obi, has officially left the party to join the African Democratic Congress (ADC).
The announcement was made on Wednesday in Enugu State, alongside other prominent political figures from Nigeria’s South-East.
Obi and his colleagues explained that their move is motivated by a shared goal: “rescuing Nigeria from the current state of poor governance under the All Progressives Congress (APC).”
Speaking at the event, Obi urged opposition leaders to unite under the ADC, led by former Senate President David Mark, as they prepare for the 2027 general elections.
“We are ending this year with the hope that in 2026 we will begin a journey to rescue our nation,” Obi said, adding that efforts will be made to ensure free and fair elections in 2027.
Obi painted a bleak picture of Nigeria’s current state, describing the country as being “in distress” and in urgent need of effective leadership. He criticized leaders who, in his view, lack transparency and accountability.
“We cannot have a country where people who cannot even recall the schools they attended are deemed fit to rule, and the courts treat it as a mere pre-election matter,” he said.
The former presidential hopeful emphasized the importance of leadership by example, calling out governments that live lavishly while asking citizens to endure hardships.
“A leader must lead by example. If you ask the people to fast, you must not feast,” Obi declared.
He further argued that Nigeria’s poverty is not natural, but a result of systemic looting and mismanagement.
“Nigeria is not a poor country; it has been made poor. Today, we are no longer recognized as a respectable nation on the global stage but are seen as a country in crisis,” Obi said.
The defection event was attended by notable political figures, including ADC National Chairman David Mark, former governors Achike Udenwa and Okwesilieze Nwodo, Chief Onyema Ugochukwu, and Senators Ben Obi, Enyinnaya Abaribe, Tony Nwoye, and Victor Umeh, along with several other leaders from the South-East.
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Obi’s move signals a growing momentum for opposition unity in Nigeria as the nation looks ahead to the 2027 elections.
