Peter Obi Quits Labour Party, Joins ADC With Top Igbo Leaders Ahead of 2027

Peter Obi Quits Labour Party, Joins ADC With Top Igbo Leaders Ahead of 2027

Former presidential candidate of the Labour Party in the 2023 general election, Mr Peter Obi, has formally defected to the African Democratic Congress (ADC), joining several prominent political leaders from the South-East in what is being described as a major realignment ahead of the 2027 polls.

Obi announced his defection on Tuesday during a political rally held at the Nike Lake Resort Hotel in Enugu, where South-East political leaders converged after months of consultations to unveil their collective decision.

“We are ending this year with the hope that in 2026 we will begin a rescue journey,” Obi said at the rally.

Addressing supporters alongside other defecting leaders, the former Anambra State governor declared their resolve to challenge alleged electoral malpractice ahead of the next general election. “We will resist rigging of elections by every lawful means in 2027,” Obi and other leaders stated during the gathering.

The leaders explained that their move to the ADC was part of a broader strategy to build a united opposition platform capable of collaborating with like-minded political actors across the country to “rescue Nigeria from the poor governance of the All Progressives Congress (APC).”

Describing the defection as the start of a new political chapter, Obi said the decision was aimed at reclaiming Nigeria from what he described as the misrule of the ruling party. “Today is an important day. As the last day of 2025, we are ending this year with hope that in 2026, we will begin a genuine journey to rescue our country for proper socio-economic development that is unifying and inclusive,” he said.

He also lamented what he described as the steady erosion of democratic values in the country, accusing some political actors of undermining democracy through intimidation and suppression of dissenting voices. “We have watched those who benefited from our democracy become accessories to its destruction through coercion and gangsterism against the opposition. We cannot allow this to continue. We will resist it,” Obi added.

Read also: 2027: Peter Obi set to announce official defection to ADC

Among the notable figures who defected to the ADC are former National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, Dr Okwesilieze Nwodo; former Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Emeka Ihedioha and Senators Ben Obi, Victor Umeh, Tony Nwoye and Gilbert Nnaji. Others include Senators Enyinnaya Abaribe and Sam Egwu, as well as several serving and former members of the National Assembly.

Also listed among the defectors are Chief Onyema Ugochukwu, Mrs Josephine Anenih and former Imo State governor, Achike Udenwa. The rally also attracted political leaders from other parts of the country, including former Senate President and national chairman of the ADC, Senator David Mark, former Sokoto State governor, Senator Aminu Tambuwal, former governors from the South-East and other political heavyweights.

Reacting to the development, former PDP chieftain, Senator Ben Obi, said South-East leaders met and concluded that their political interests would be best served within the ADC. He urged opposition parties across the country to rally around the ADC, describing it as the platform capable of salvaging Nigeria.