Peter Obi, the Labour Party’s presidential candidate in the 2023 general election, has officially defected to the African Democratic Congress (ADC), marking a major political realignment ahead of the 2027 presidential election.
Obi announced his defection on Wednesday, December 31, 2025, in Enugu, alongside prominent political leaders from the South-East geopolitical zone, under the banner of a coalition seeking to challenge the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
Speaking at the event, the former Anambra State governor said his decision to join the ADC was driven by the need to “rescue Nigeria” from poor governance and place the country on a path of national renewal.
“We are ending this year with the hope that in 2026 we will begin a rescue journey”, Obi declared.
“We will resist rigging of elections by every lawful means in 2027”, he added.
Obi and other South-East leaders said the decision followed months of consultations and strategic engagements aimed at building a broad-based opposition platform capable of winning power at the centre.
According to the leaders, the ADC offers a viable national structure through which opposition forces can unite to confront what they described as governance failure under the APC.
The Enugu declaration attracted a high-powered delegation of political figures from across the South-East and other parts of the country.
Those in attendance included former Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Emeka Ihedioha; Senators Victor Umeh, Tony Nwoye, Gilbert Nnaji, Sam Egwu and Enyinnya Abaribe; Chief Onyema Ugochukwu, as well as several serving and former members of the National Assembly.
Also present were former Senate President and current National Chairman of the ADC, Senator David Mark; former Sokoto State Governor, Senator Aminu Tambuwal; former governors from the South-East and other senior opposition leaders drawn from across the federation.
The coalition leaders said their move to the ADC represents a coordinated effort to rebuild opposition strength, deepen democratic competition and prevent Nigeria from drifting towards a one-party state.
Obi’s defection formally ends speculation about his political future following internal crises within the Labour Party after the 2023 election and positions the ADC as a central platform in the emerging opposition coalition ahead of the 2027 polls.
