The Labour Party’s presidential candidate in the 2023 election, Peter Obi, and other political leaders from the South-East geopolitical zone, have officially declared for the African Democratic Congress (ADC).
Obi declared that the ADC was on a rescue mission, saying Nigeria is being “looted into poverty”. The former Labour Party Presidential candidate and the political leaders gathered in Enugu, the capital of Enugu State, on Wednesday to make the declaration.
They stated that after months of consultations, they had decided to join the ADC and collaborate with other opposition leaders from across the country to “rescue Nigeria from the poor governance of the All Progressives Congress (APC)”.
Those present at the event included former Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Emeka Ihedioha; Senators Ben Obi, Victor Umeh, Tony Nwoye, and Gilbert Nnaji; Chief Onyema Ugochukwu; Enyinnya Abaribe; Senator Sam Egwu; as well as several other Senators and members of the House of Representatives and State lawmakers from South East states.
Other party leaders from across the country were also in attendance, including former Senate President and National Chairman of the ADC, David Mark; former Sokoto State Governor, Senator Aminu Tambuwal; former governors from the South-East; and other dignitaries.
Addressing Nigerians and his supporters at the event, which was broadcast live by Arise Television from the conference hall of Nike Lake Resort in Enugu on Wednesday, Obi said his move is part of a wider national mission, urging opposition groups to unite ahead of the 2027 general elections.
“As a nation, we are not poor; we are looted into poverty. Nigeria is not broken; Nigeria is severely betrayed. The average Nigerian is not lazy or incompetent, but the system is rigged to reward mediocrity and recycle failure,” he said.
Obi, a former governor of Anambra State, accused the political elite of exploiting ethnic and religious divisions to maintain power. “Their expertise lies in creating more divisions to sustain themselves in office. With little or no interest in unity or inclusive development,” he said.
He described Nigeria as a country in “deep distress”, lamenting that over 130 million people are living in multidimensional poverty with more than 80 million youths unemployed. “With over 130 million Nigerians living in multidimensional poverty and more than 80 million youths unemployed, our people are in persistent agony. This is not the destiny God bequeathed to over 220 million Nigerians,” he said.
Comparing Nigeria’s trajectory with Indonesia, he said, “Indonesia and Nigeria started with similar characteristics, but while Indonesia is now a trillion-dollar economy, Nigeria is grappling with deindustrialization, corruption, and deepening poverty.”
He criticised recent tax reforms, describing them as “anti-people and economically counterproductive”, and warned that reports of a forged tax law set “a dangerous precedent”. “A tax regime founded on forgery cannot build trust, unity, or prosperity,” he said.
Obi positioned his defection as a strategic step towards building a coalition capable of challenging the government. “This decision is guided solely by patriotism and national interest. I now respectfully call on my political associates, the Obidient Movement, and opposition leaders across the country to join this broad national coalition under the African Democratic Congress. History will not forgive silence in moments of national peril,” he said.
“As the year 2025 ends today, we stand on the threshold of a new beginning. For Nigeria, moments of profound national challenge demand clarity of purpose and decisive action. That moment is now,” he added.
‘We’ll Resist Rigging In 2027’
The former Anambra State governor also vowed that the opposition will resist any attempt to rig the 2027 elections, warning the Independent Electoral Commission (INEC) to strictly follow the rules and regulations.
“And we are saying that those who are planning to rig elections in Nigeria come 2027, we will resist it by every means lawful and legitimate. This happens because we have weak institutions like the INEC, which we are urging to act properly in the coming election.
“We must do whatever it takes to follow the rules and regulations, starting from educational qualification for eligibility to contest or seek any election. We can no longer be in a situation where they are asking whether this person went to school or not. We have one year now to determine who went to school and who didn’t go to school,” he said.
Obi emphasised the need for unity among the opposition, asserting that Nigeria needs competent leadership to turn the tide of current disunity in the country.
He also faulted the Federal Government’s tax reform policies, saying they are hostile to the people and detrimental to economic growth.
Meanwhile, a former vice president of Nigeria, Atiku Abubakar, has welcomed Obi’s move, describing it as a turning point for opposition politics. “Today marks a significant moment in the history of political coalitions in our country, with the official declaration of my brother and associate, @PeterObi, into the African Democratic Congress (ADC).
“It is my pleasure to welcome him officially, as we look forward to a robust working relationship that will foster a virile opposition, one that will ultimately form a government capable of bringing prosperity and peace to our people. And as the @ADCNig Coalition train leaves Enugu, the capital of the Southeast region, I hope this inspires other patriots to join the cause with the train headed in their direction,” he said.
Peter Obi joins other political heavyweights such as Atiku Abubakar, Rotimi Amaechi, Nasir El-Rufai, among others, who earlier in the year declared for the ADC, setting the stage for a political contest to defeat the APC in 2027.
