Former Presidential candidate of the Labour Party in the 2023 general election, Mr Peter Obi, has formally defected to the African Democratic Congress (ADC), vowing to lead a united opposition movement to resist electoral fraud and rescue Nigeria from what he described as democratic decline.
Obi made the declaration on Tuesday at Nike Lake Resort, Enugu, during a well-attended event that drew the national leadership of the ADC, members of the National Assembly, and other key political stakeholders.
Describing his defection as a strategic step toward saving Nigeria’s democracy, Obi warned that the country could no longer tolerate electoral manipulation, intimidation of the opposition, and institutional failure.
“We have seen people who benefited from our democracy openly celebrate electoral fraud, and we are saying clearly to those planning to rig elections in Nigeria come 2027: we will resist it by every lawful and legitimate means,” Obi declared.
‘We Will Resist Coercion and Gangsterism’
Obi accused entrenched political interests of turning democratic gains into tools of oppression through coercion and political gangsterism, stressing that such practices threaten national stability.
“Some people who benefited from our democracy have, at times, become accessories to its destruction. This has happened through coercion and gangsterism against the opposition. We cannot allow this to continue, and we will resist it,” he said.
He urged electoral institutions, particularly the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), to rise to their constitutional responsibility ahead of the 2027 elections.
“Despite their weaknesses, institutions like INEC must do the right thing. We must follow the rules and regulations, starting with eligibility and educational qualifications,” Obi said.
Call for Early Verification of Candidates
The former Anambra State governor insisted that Nigeria must end the recurring post-election controversies surrounding candidates’ credentials.
“We can no longer remain in a situation where questions are asked after elections about whether a candidate attended school or not. Now is the time to verify everyone who intends to contest elections in Nigeria, and we must follow due process,” he stated.
Unity and Competent Leadership as Pathway Out of Crisis
Framing his political move as part of a broader national rescue mission, Obi said Nigeria’s challenges stem largely from lack of unity and poor leadership.
“Two things are critical if we are to turn Nigeria around: unity and competent leadership. Nigeria today is not united, and we must ensure national unity alongside leadership with capacity, commitment, and compassion,” he said.
Drawing lessons from Rwanda and Indonesia, Obi contrasted their economic growth with Nigeria’s decline, describing the situation as unacceptable for a country often referred to as Africa’s giant.
“In 1995, Rwanda’s GDP per capita was $237; today it is about $1,100. Nigeria’s was $1,225 then, but today it has fallen below $1,000. For a giant of Africa, this is unacceptable,” he noted.
‘Leadership Must Be by Example’
Obi criticised what he described as hypocrisy in governance, where leaders preach sacrifice while living in excess.
“If you ask people to fast, you must not feast. Leadership must be by example. We can no longer tolerate leaders who lie to the people,” he said.
He also decried rising hunger, insecurity, and corruption, despite Nigeria’s vast natural and human resources.
ADC Coalition as a Rescue Platform
Explaining his choice of the ADC, Obi said the coalition was not about political defection but about national salvation.
“This is not about defecting to parties; it is about rescuing Nigeria. We are forming a family—not a family of crime or deprivation, but a family of change,” he said.
He called on all opposition forces to unite under the ADC platform to confront what he described as a national threat.
“All opposition forces must unite for the sake of Nigeria. This is a national threat, and we must fight it together—for our children,” Obi stressed.
Vision for a New Nigeria
Obi concluded by outlining his vision of a productive and inclusive Nigeria driven by agriculture, manufacturing, and youth empowerment.
“We envision a united Nigeria where no one goes to bed hungry. When millions of young Nigerians are empowered to employ themselves and others, unemployment will no longer dominate our national discourse,” he said.
