Obi Defects to ADC, Calls for United Opposition Ahead of 2027

Former Labour Party presidential candidate in the 2023 general elections, Peter Obi, has formally defected to the African Democratic Congress (ADC).

Obi announced his decision on Wednesday during a New Year address at the Nike Lake Resort in Enugu, where he urged Nigerians and opposition forces to unite under a broad national coalition to address the country’s growing challenges.

The former Anambra State governor said his defection was driven by patriotism and national interest, calling on his political associates, the Obidient Movement, and opposition leaders nationwide to rally under the ADC.

According to him, Nigeria has reached a critical point and can no longer sustain politics rooted in division, poor governance, and democratic decline.

Obi accused the current political leadership of economic mismanagement, state capture, and the erosion of democratic values, noting that widespread poverty, unemployment, and insecurity have pushed millions of Nigerians into hardship.

He argued that Nigeria’s problems stemmed from leadership failure rather than lack of resources, insisting that the country was “looted into poverty” and betrayed by its political elite.

The former presidential candidate also accused political leaders of exploiting ethnic and religious divisions to retain power, warning that such practices threatened national unity.

Obi stressed the need for urgent electoral reforms and cautioned against any attempt to manipulate the 2027 general elections.

Positioning his move as part of a wider national mission, he said opposition unity was essential to rescuing Nigeria from economic decline and restoring democratic integrity.